Topaz Photo AI as a favourite in imatch

[Stefanjan]

If I try to add a Topaz Photo AI shortcut to imatch, I get an error message "This is not the right kind of shortcut" see attached screengrab.

Is this a similar issue to Affinity 2 where there is a workaround. Is there a workaround for Topaz Photo AI?

Topaz Photo AI seems to work fine as a plugin from for example Affinity and in their help it reads:

<quote>
Other Applications
For applications which do not have a dedicated plugin already built, you can still use Topaz Photo AI with them! If your application has an Edit in or Open with menu, Topaz Photo AI will appear there so you can send the image directly to the application. You may need to reimport the image for it to return to your image editing application.
</quote>

[Mario]

See 'Real' Shortcuts

[Stefanjan]

See 'Real' Shortcuts

Thanks Mario. That creates a favourite OK and opens Topaz Photo AI but not with the selected photo. 

[Mario]

and opens Topaz Photo AI but not with the selected photo. 

Then that's a problem of the other application. Most likely it does not support (or cannot) the standard Windows file drag & drop protocols. This always depends on how the receiving application interprets the data and is outside the control of IMatch.

For example, Photoshop or Affinity software etc. just open all dropped files (or files "sent" via the shortcut).
Other applications do nothing, open just one file, create a workspace or whatever.

Have you tried starting Topaz first and then just drag files from IMatch to it? Or to the Topaz desktop shortcut / task bar shortcut? If this also does not work, the Topaz developers decided to not support the standard Windows protocols.

See also Opening Files in Other Applications for more ways to open files from IMatch in other applications.

[Stefanjan]

Have you tried starting Topaz first and then just drag files from IMatch to it? Or to the Topaz desktop shortcut / task bar shortcut?

Dragging from imatch to an open Topaz Photo AI window does work. Just a bit fiddly as I have to first move the imatch window to reveal the Topaz Photo AI window before then dragging and dropping.

Dragging from imatch onto a Topaz Photo AI icon does not work (red circle with line through)Using the other methods in the link "Opening Files in Other Applications " just opens Topaz Photo AI without the image.

I guess in practice, if I need to use Topaz Photo AI, I'll probably do it via Affinity as a plugin.

[Mario]

Dragging from imatch to an open Topaz Photo AI window does work. Just a bit fiddly as I have to first move the imatch window to reveal the Topaz Photo AI window before then dragging and dropping.

If Topaz is already running, just drag the files to the Topaz task bar icon and hold them there for a second. Windows will bring the Topaz window into the foreground and you can drop them.

Or start dragging in IMatch and (while keeping the mouse button pressed) use <Alt>+<Tab> to switch to whatever application you want to drop into. Then move the mouse cursor into the window of the application and release the mouse button.

Standard Windows drag & drop features, fully supported by IMatch. No need to move or resize windows around or anything.

[Stefanjan]

If Topaz is already running, just drag the files to the Topaz task bar icon and hold them there for a second. Windows will bring the Topaz window into the foreground and you can drop them.

Still get red circle with a line through with this method

Or start dragging in IMatch and (while keeping the mouse button pressed) use <Ctrl>+<Tab> to switch to whatever application you want to drop into. Then move the mouse cursor into the window of the application and release the mouse button.

Yes that works! Marvellous, despite using Windows for years, I didn't realise you could do that! Thanks Mario. By the way, it's <Alt><Tab>

[Mario]

The crossed circle may be normal. You cannot drag files to the icon.
But hovering over the icon should bring the Topaz window into foreground and then you can drop the files into the application window. Works with all the standard software I use, even Photoshop and Affinity sw.

I've fixed the misspelled <Alt> above too.

[Stefanjan]

But hovering over the icon should bring the Topaz window into foreground and then you can drop the files into the application

Hovering (not dragging) does bring the app to the foreground but not sure how this helps because the imatch window is then hidden behind and I can't then drag

[Mario]

You drag from IMatch to the icon and hover. When the Topaz window comes forward, continue the drag and release the mouse button only when the pointer is in the Topaz window.

[Stefanjan]

You drag from IMatch to the icon and hover. When the Topaz window comes forward, continue the drag and release the mouse button only when the pointer is in the Topaz window.

Hi Mario, doesn't work. I also tested from windows explorer dragging a file onto Affinity icon. That did not work either.

Googling I found lots of references to drag and drop to task bar not working in Windows 11. Tried some of the fixes without success.

As your suggestion I drag and <Alt><Tab> works fine, I will go that route.

[Mario]

I use that with Windows 11 all the time.
Just did it with Windows Explorer,  Photoshop, Affinity Designer. Never had a problem with this. Latest version of Windows 11.

But sometimes Windows works in mysterious ways.

[Stefanjan]

I use that with Windows 11 all the time.
Just did it with Windows Explorer,  Photoshop, Affinity Designer. Never had a problem with this.

Strange it works for you.
According to this link dated 21 November
" Windows11 does not yet support drag and drop onto the Taskbar, that functionality was meant to be in the 22h2 update, but a few of those features were not ready in time for the update, there is a large update to Windows 11 this month and that new functionality should be in that update."

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-11-22h222621608-drag-drop-not-working/102f3135-60f0-4920-8df9-e7af3fe51d17