When actions won't "Save As" to same folder

Question

There's a persistent problem where "Save As" Photoshop Actions stay stuck saving files to the same folder where the action was originally recorded. I have a lot of unflattened files in my archives that don't have image previews, instead they have the text alert: "This layered Photoshop file was not saved with a composite image" in four different languages. I eventually figured out that the best way to supply these documents with previews is to "Save As" with the same name, and force my Mac OS to replace them with new files that have OS-generated icons. (Preferences>File Handling>File Saving Options>Image Previews>Never Save)
I made a Photoshop Action to run a Save As on an open file. However, the action permanently recorded the target folder for the original file which I used when I was recording the action. There's no way to edit that out or re-set the action so that the file is saved to its same folder. The only workaround is when you're running the action as a batch operation. Then you can override the action's target folder to anything you want. But I wanted an operation I could use on an individual file, that would be quicker than running File>Save As, hitting Return twice, and closing.
Turns out I'm far from alone in this, as well in my frustration that Adobe continues to not provide any simple way to do this. So I'd like to share the solution I just came up with, using the excellent macro utility, Keyboard Maestro. I assume any other good macro app will allow you to do something similar.
"Photoshop SaveAs" [my name for this macro]
Triggered by any of the following:
The Hot Key ⌘F15 is pressed [the key combo of my choice]
Will execute the following actions:
Select Menu Item in Finder
Select: File ⇢ Open
Activate Adobe Photoshop CS5. [to bring Photoshop to the front]
Pause for 0.5 Seconds [sometimes Keyboard Maestro needs a pause in order to execute correctly]
Select Menu Item in Adobe Photoshop CS5.1
Select: File ⇢ Save As...
Pause for 0.5 Seconds
Press Button ‘Save’
Pause for 0.5 Seconds
Press Button ‘Replace’
Pause for 0.5 Seconds
Select Menu Item in the Front Application
Select: File ⇢ Close
[end macro]

Answer 1

USAlias wrote:
The only workaround is when you're running the action as a batch operation. Then you can override the action's target folder to anything you want. But I wanted an operation I could use on an individual file, that would be quicker than running File>Save As, hitting Return twice, and closing.
Actually I was trying to make you think. I always want to make users think when they write the only way is.  I have a problem believing there is only one way to do something in Photoshop. I know you wrote about batch and I wanted you to think more about it and also about scripting.
I use a PC and You a Mac.  So I not exactly sure of what you want to do. On one hand you write you have many files without previews so right away T think Batch and PSD file with max compatibility so there is a composite preview.  You write about batch but then you write individual file. And you don't want to hit return twice and then close.
Scripting is powerful and since CS3 scripting has plug-in support. So you can record a plug-in script in an action. When you set the setting in the Plug-in dialog they are recorded into the action step and passed to the script when the action is played  so the script bypass displaying its dialog and uses the setting you recorded.
A very powerful Plug-in script was written by X that you can download from Russell Brown's web site.  I believe you can use it to automate your process.  Record something like this in an action.
Menu File>Automate>Image Processor Pro
Follow that step with a close
Or use the Image Processor Pro to batch all of your images documents files.