We Photoshop Elements action junkies have tons of actions in our Effects palette. Scrolling down a long list to look for the action you need can be a drawn-out pain in the patootie, can’t it?
Would you like to organize your actions using folders accessible through the pick list, like this image?
If you look at the photo effects folder where we install actions in PSE, you’ll see that the actions that came with the software all have accompanying files whose names end in metadata.xml. This easy-to-make file is the key to categorizing actions by folder in your effects palette.
You can download the template for this metadata.xml file below. This file is configured to work for the Texas Chicks Sharpening Powerhouse action in PSE 7 and 8. (This is the action that makes many, if not most, types of sharpening accessible within two clicks. You’ll never have to look up or remember the different methods of sharpening to figure out which one will work best for your image again!)
You can also use this template with any other action in Photoshop Elements by modifying it like this:
To use this XML data, download the XML template here. Unzip it, close PSE, and copy and paste this file into the Photo Effects folder where you installed the Sharpening Powerhouse. Rebuild your mediadatabase.db3 file if necessary and restart Elements.
To use this XML template for any other action in Photoshop Elements, download it, unzip it and double click on the file to open it. It will usually open in Internet Explorer or your default browser. Highlight the text and copy it into Notepad.
After copying, the only things you’ll need to change in the file are the name of the action and the name of the folder or category you would like the action to be a part of.
Use the graphic above as a guide. Both the name and the category appear twice. In each case, the first occurrence is written without spaces and the second is spaced EXACTLY like the .ATN file is named.
In this case, the name of the action is Sharpening Powerhouse.ATN.
Save this file in the Photo Effects Folder where you installed your action. The file must be named action name.metadata.xml. For the Sharpening Powerhouse, name the XML file Sharpening Powerhouse.xml.
A note on saving in Notepad. Go to File/Save As.
Make sure you select “All Files” in Save as type. In File name, type the full name, including the final .XML extension. The icon, when you view your file in the Explorer, should look something like an internet file. Otherwise, PSE won’t read the doc as an XML file and the categorization won’t work.
Another note: these XML files can be very cantankerous when it comes to spacing. One extra space, even at the beginning or end of a line, can blow the whole thing. So be careful with your spacebar!
And one more note: this template only works in PSE 7 and 8. PSE 6 is slightly different – you can find your existing action XML files and use them as a model. This tutorial is PC-centric. I don’t have the corresponding Mac info, but there shouldn’t be many differences.
Happy New Year to all of you! I hope your holiday season has been exactly what you wished!
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy New Year!!! Erin, this is great. I wanted to learn how to do this. By the way, could you include a link on how to rebuild your mediadatabase.db3 file? I am confused by this step.
Thanks! Rita
Thanks, Rita! The method to rebuild the mediadatabase is on the Action Installation Instruction page for the particular version of PSE that you are using. I’m glad you asked!
This is so helpful…I’m starting to accumulate quite the collection of actions so it would be nice to get some organization in there! I have PSE 6 for Mac so as soon as I get around to trying this I’ll let you know how it works or if there’s any differences.
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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
I have been trying to figure this out for a week! the ‘category value’ was just the part I was missing!!
So thanks very much!!
This is great. But, I don’t have Elements. I have Photoshop CS3. Is there a way to organize actions like this in Photoshop? Is there a template or some sort of program out there that is reliable? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Pam
IntoMemories.com
Pamela,
It’s much easier in CS3. At the bottom of the actions panel, you will see a button for a new folder. You can create folders and drag and drop your actions into them to keep them organized.
Tnanks for reading Texas Chicks!
Erin
Can an action be categorized into two different categories? I can’t seem to get it to do so…
Kay,
I’ve never tried using two categories for an action. Something tells me it won’t work, but that’s a great idea!
Erin
I am not able to get the file name to appear in the drop down list for the actions in my effects pallet. I followed the instructions exactly. even rebuilt metadata file. what went wrong?
Hi there Keysia.
I wish I knew what went wrong but wouldn’t know without logging on to your computer.
If you’d like me to do that, you can sign up here:
http://www.texaschicksblogsandpics.com/photoshop-elements-action-installation-service/
Erin
Any idea if this works on Elements 9 as well? I need to get mine sorted out.
Yes, it works exactly the same way in Elements 9!
Thank you for reading Texas Chicks!
Hi Erin! I wonder if you ever managed to solve Keysia’s problem ~ I cannot get it to work either
Would LOVE to be able to do this as my actions are a little overwhelming in the ‘see all’ menu!
I have followed your instruction carefully, precisely and repeatedly (just to be sure), but the XML will not open in IE, nor will the folder appear in the effects dropdown. I am using PSE7 in Windows7 (64bit) if that helps you figure it out any!
I have just found this tutorial and have been trying to get something like this done for a while! I am having the same problem a couple of other people have had though. When I try to open the metadata files that I’ve created they are blank and so none of my actions have been grouped into folders. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Kelli, make sure you open the metadata file in a text editor.
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