Why can't I record certain blending options using actions?

Question

I'm trying to make some recordings/actions, which I've done alot before, but I can't get all of my blending options to record.  Specifically the curves to my bevel & emboss and my contour....after playing the action, it will apply the DEFAULT bevel and won't remember any of my gloss contour settings.  Can anyone explain why? 
I also have a second question someone might know...  I'm trying to make these actions universal, however when I select a layer to modify, it records the name of the layer I click on...so if i use the recording later on a different file and it doesn't have that same layer name, then the action won't work...  is there some way around this?

Answer 1

It sounds like your recording adding layer styles.  IMO is is not possible to record universal layer style Actions for layer style setting are absolute pixel values.   To automate universal layer styles you would need a script where you can use logic to retrieve sizes and resolution so you can set the approbate layer style setting.  When it come to actions you best off recording layer style for actions that deal with a particular document size. Like web size documents or for print size documents etc.  Layer style can be scaled with menu options and image size check box.  Sill Actions can not retrieve information about document to know how to scale layer styles.
When it come to layers better actions will reference layers in a relative manner rather then by name.  You can select layers in a relative way like bottom top forward backward.  You can also move layer in the layer stack in a relative manner.  So you can add a layer it will be the current Photoshop target somewhere in the layer stack  then you can move it to the top of the stack, know where it is. When you add  an additional layer they will be on top and you can move it relative to the previous top you just added for you know its relative position.
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