'Elp Please!

I have used Photoshop Elements for about 3 years (currently on version 9) and always work in raw format. Quite suddenly, all of the photos in some (but not all) of the folders will not open in PE, bringing up the error message 'wrong type of file'.

The problem thus far is of course that raw files have to go through the small 'jpeg conversion' window before PE can display them, and for some reason the affected files are not activating that window. At the same time, clicking on the photos in the affected folders does not bring up the thumbnails either - which does happen in the unaffected folders.

All raw files open as normal in the Pentax Digital Utility 4 program.

Can any kind soul please help?

I do have Lightroom 4 but as yet have not got to grips with the program - which I suspect may not be for me anyway

Roger.

Are these PEF's or DNG's ?

John K

PEF's John.

Roger.

You may need to update Camera Raw. I think version 6.5 is the latest update for Elements 9. Here's a link for it:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=5271

Of course, if you already have that version it might not be that!

As a general rule, using DNG's keeps things more compatible and future proof. We're lucky Pentax support that in-camera; with some other makes the files need converting to that.

If you have a camera that is no longer supported in Elements 9, you should be able to convert the PEF's you have from it to DNG with Adobe DNG converter.

The latest version supports the K-30:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=5486

John K

No I do not have the latest version of Camera Raw installed - a job for tomorrow..

Why I am still using PEF instead of DNG I do not know - laziness I guess and the thought of converting hundreds of files!

Thanks for the info.

Roger.

It will not be a "Camera Raw" problem if it has suddenly happened. I have NOT updated that in PE 9 - just used teh installed version.

It is likely that something else you have installed has made a change and that has affected it. For example - today I did an Adobe Flash update to IE and it installed Google Chrome and Google Toolbar without my "approval". I removed Chrome and reset default browser to FF. However, when I tried to used a hyperlink in Outlook to open a webpage, it refuse and came up with a security violation. Did a System Restore to last night and all is now fine.

So, think back to when it started and then do a PC "System Restore" to just before that date. That will bring back all file associations as they were and the base parameters for PE9. Firstly though, create a Restore Point for today.

You will loose and software installed or updates, but not data. Then as you reinstall various applications you may find the culprit.

Agreed with that, unless a new camera is involved that isn't supported in the old version such as a K-30.
If still using the same camera then it must be a software issue if it worked before. Reinstalling PE9 might solve it.

John K

Might be worth re-installing the Pentax codec

Before you perform a system rollback (restore), try changing the FILE TYPES ASSOCIATIONS. In Win7/Win8, open up the CONTROL PANEL, then look for DEFAULT PROGRAMS. Open up DEFAULT PROGRAMS, then click on the link entitled ASSOCIATE A FILE TYPE OR PROTOCOL WITH A PROGRAM. Browse through the list of file types, and once you arrive at [.PEF] in the list, click on this until highlighted within the list. You should now see a button on the top-right of this dialog screen, called CHANGE PROGRAM. Click this, and you will be offered a list of possible programs that can open these file types. If Adobe PSE is not in the immediate list, simply click the link at the bottom, marked MORE OPTIONS. You should now (hopefully) see Adobe PSE in that list. Simply click on Adobe PSE, and the computer will begin the process of associating .pef's to that program.

ONLY IF the OP wants them to always open in PE9. It should, in my opinion, be set to open PEFs in Pentax Digital Utility as the default. A right click and "Open With" should be used to open PEFs in PE9 or an alternate.


Changing associations does not always work - as I know too well.

The problem with the "open with" command is that you will have to do this each time you want to open up that particular file type in a particular program. By using my suggested method, it is pre-set, and should the OP of this thread want to open up these file types on an ad-hoc basis, then your suggestion would be valid, Gamka.

Thank you all

Uninstal and reinstall PSE9 didn't work but getting Adobe to download latest updates and upgrades has...although that should have been done automatically and in any case was last done in November.

Still puzzled by the fact that only the files in certain folders were affected. Perhaps there is a time (when taken) element in this - which comes back to JAK's point about Camera Raw......?

All affected folders contained K5 files only.

Fingers crossed!

Roger

And it removes the default of PEFs opening in the Pentax supplied software which is where, I believe, the default should be.

I've never even installed the Pentax software, Silkypics is no match for Photoshop or Elements.

cannot see the need of a default, much better to have freedom of choice as to what opens your files and where they are put. i use "open with" i then have a choice of elements,cs5 ,lr 3 or just preview in windows viewer and when done can move to folder of my choice. do not believe in allowing computer control.
as you see no pentax software, tried it did not like it.