“File | Open Multiple” doesn’t seem to open multiple files

[jfoster]

Just ran into this. “File | Open Multiple” doesn’t seem to open multiple files.

To reproduce issue:

1 Run PWP 8.0.427
2 Select File | Open Multiple
3 Note that the “Open Image Files” dialog box appears
4 Click an image file to open (I selected a TIF file)
5 Control-Click another image file to open
6 Click the Open button on the “Open Image Files” dialog box
7 Note that only one image file is opened

Jeff

[jsachs]

There are two ways to open multiple files.

The first way is to use File Open and select more than one file to open. This is equivalent to opening each of the files are separate top level images.

The other way is to use File Open Multiple which creates a single top level image that contains a list of the selected files. You use this when you want to run a batch operation on some or all the files in the list. You can view or edit the list by double-clicking on the File Open transformation. You can also start a batch operation from the same place.

[jfoster]

Got it. Thanks.

[jfoster]

I looked more at this and remembered playing around with the multiple file capability back in the depths of the pandemic - but then promptly forgot about it.

While playing around with the multiple file capability, it seems there's an issue when removing all files from the list and then adding one back to it - the thumbnail image stays as the null grid and subsequent transformations still see a null image.

To reproduce:

1 Open PWP 8.0.427
2 Use File | Open Multiple to place two images into the file list
3 Right-Click on the File Open transformation and select Edit Transformation...
4 With the File Open dialog box displayed, click on the Trash Can to remove all files from the file list
5 Click Ok on the File Open dialog box to close it
6 Re-open the File Open transformation
7 Add one image file and click Ok
8 Note that, with that one file in the list and selected, the null image is still shown in the thumbnail and the null image is still being past to subsequent transformations

Also, It might be a nice touch, if not too difficult to implement, to add a visual hint to "File Open" thumbnails to indicate a file-list populated with more than one image - maybe a shadowed thumbnail or an ellipsis overlaid in the lower right. Something to consider.

Jeff

[jfoster]

And while I'm at it, the File Open Multiple info in the help file should probably begin a new paragraph.

Cheers,

Jeff

[jsachs]

I believe I have fixed the problem of the null image for the next release, and I have already edited the help file for File Open Multiple.

[pierrelabreche]

Suggestions :

1. It might be easier for users to figure out the interface if the run batch icon (running man) were moved from the transform dialog panel to the image browser tree, nearby attached to the transform.

2. The right click menu for the file input multiple transform could have "Run batch" as an item

3. The "file open multiple" transform could be renamed to "file open batch". Rationale: plain "file open" can also open multiple files, but not serialized for batch processing.

[jfoster]

>> While playing around with the multiple file capability, it seems there's an issue when removing all files from the list and then adding one back to it - the thumbnail image stays as the null grid and subsequent transformations still see a null image. <<

This issue remains in Rev 4.0.428.

Jeff

[jsachs]

I'm not seeing it here any more -- can you give me more details on what you are doing so I can try to reproduce it.

[jfoster]

Ok. I'm seeing it work intermittently. Following the above steps using tif files seems to cause more frequent failures than with jpgs. I'll try to narrow it down further when I get a chance.

Jeff