Copy/paste issue in actions

[popman]

Hi,

I am having an issue when recording actions.
What I trying to do (and which works outside actions): Copying the layer image (CTRL-C) and insert it as a layer mask (shift-CRTL-V). (masking the image with itself)

When the action is run, it seems like the image is not copied and the last (previously) copied image is put as a mask. I have tried CTRL-V during recording, as well as using the mouse to pick the command.

Can someone confirm, or let me know in case I missed something?

Thanks

[popman]

This is what I am trying to achieve. When playing back the action, the previous copied image becomes the mask and I end up with this (e.g.):

[Regor250]

Same here. The "Copy" or "Paste" or "Paste as a Mask" aren't recorded as Actions. "Paste as Mask" is actually recorded as "Add Layer Mask from Selection". Watching the Recording Action window shows what is recorded, and these functions aren't. I can only conclude that the Action Recorder isn't recording everything one does. In fact I tried recording a Channel Selection and that didn't work either. Looks like this recorder function is limited to capturing the application of Adjustment Layers and is very limited in what else it records. The Help Files states: ACDSee Actions allow you to record all of your Edit mode adjustments no mention of anything else.

[Greyfox]

.. Looks like this recorder function is limited to capturing the application of Adjustment Layers and is very limited in what else it records.

I have a number of recorded actions I use frequently that make use of Resize and also Crop (including using the offsets) from the Geometry section in the filter menu, also the Resize Canvas and Move tools from the tool bar, and also the Text Tool.

I also have recorded actions that use pixel targeting, and they work, so it certainly isn't limited to just Adjustment layers.

I can confirm the particular issue raised in this thread (or perhaps that should be "issues")
The first is quite obvious, the recorder is simply not recording the Copy to clipboard.

But the Paste as Mask is also not recording as I would expect.

If I open an image in Edit mode then:

1. Manually Edit/Copy to put a copy of the current image on the clip board
2. Now turn on the recorded actions.
3. Edit/Paste as mask
4. Turn off recording and save as "Paste to Mask".
5. Return back to Manage mode.

6. Select a different image and open that in Edit mode
7a. Manually select Edit/Copy to put a copy of the image on the clip board
8. Now in Edit mode play the recorded "Paste to Mask"

Expected: That it would paste the current clipboard content as a mask (the one manually carried out from step 7)
Actual: It pastes the previous image (the one made in step 1).

To expand on the above.
After step 7a above

7b. Duplicate the layer twice
7c. Rename the first duplication "Manual"
7d. Rename the second duplication "Recorded"

7e. Select the "Manual" layer and manually select Paste as Mask

Note that the mask in the "Manual" layer is what would be expected (from what was "copied" to the clipboard in step 7a.)

7f. Now select the "Recorded" layer and play the "Paste to mask" action

Expected: That it would paste the current clipboard content as a mask (the one manually carried out from step 7a)
Actual: It pastes the image the was in the clipboard at the time the recorded action was made (the one from step 1)

So clearly the recorded action doesn't run the function using the current clipboard content.
I do vaguely remember something similar with recorded actions using another function quite some time ago.

So I personally think it is "issues".

Edit: I've had a play with recorded actions using Channel select.
The first group of shots shows the stages of recording an action.
Left (Source image), Middle (Channel select Green + invert), Right (Yellow bucket fill applied to selection)


The next group of two show a different source image with the above action applied
Left (Source Image), Right the result after running the action


As can be seen, the shape of the original selection is being applied by the action. Oh dear, not what I would expect at all!

Edit 2

By way of comparison, here is an action containing Pixel Targeting
The first group of shots shows the stages of recording the action.


The next group of two show a different source image with the above action applied

This action has worked as I would expect it to. It has only changed the selected colors (Greens to Yellow).
I expected the shade variation in the two yellow areas because of the difference in the green shades in the original.

[popman]

When recording the actions, the copy command is not recorded as copy command as intended, but the current image is copied (saved) into the action.
When playing the action, the saved image is used as the mask, not the current image.

[Greyfox]

When recording the actions, the copy command is not recorded as copy command as intended, but the current image is copied (saved) into the action.
When playing the action, the saved image is used as the mask, not the current image.

As I indicated, there are a number of actions that when played back, use the result of the action on the original image when it was recorded, rather than it actually carrying out that action on playback on the current image. It has been that way for quite some time.

I suspect ACDSee might say that is how it was designed to work, and there may be some reason why it was designed that way.
The question is whether they can, or are prepared to, change that design.