TechNote (Archived)

Error "...not the right kind of document" when you open Camera Raw files in Photoshop Elements 4.0 (on Windows)

Issue

When you open Camera Raw files in Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 on Windows, Photoshop Elements returns the error message, "Could not complete your request because it is not the right kind of document."

Solutions

Do one or more of the following solutions:

Solution 1: Make sure you have the latest Camera Raw plug-in installed to the proper plug-in folder location.

Note:The default location for the Camera Raw plug-in is C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 4.0\Plug-Ins\File Formats\Camera Raw.8bi.

Solution 2: Remove and replace your Default Plugin Cache.psp file.

1. Quit Photoshop Elements 4.0.

2. Navigate to \Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 4.0\Required.

3. Delete the Default Plugin Cache.psp file.

4. Make sure your other third-party plug-ins are up to date.

5. Delete the Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 Prefs.psp file and the PluginCache.psp file located in C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\4.0\Editor\.

6. Start the Photoshop Elements 4.0 Editor.

7. Quit Photoshop Elements 4.0.

Note:Quitting the application causes a new a PluginCache.psp file to be created in C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\4.0\Editor\.

8. Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\4.0\Editor\.

9. Copy (Edit > Copy) and then paste (Edit > Paste) the PluginCache.psp file, and then rename (File > Rename) the copy as Default Plugin Cache.psp.

10. Move the new Default Plugin Cache.psp file to \Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 4.0\Required.

11. Start Photoshop Elements 4.0, and then open the Raw Image file.

Solution 3: Use the Adobe DNG (Digital Negative) Converter to convert the RAW files to DNG files, and then open the DNG files.

1. Download the DNG Converter from the Adobe download site at www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html and extract the DNG_Camera_Raw_x_x.zip file.

2. Double-click Adobe DNG Converter.exe to start the Adobe DNG Converter.

Note: You can also drag and drop individual images or a folder of images directly onto the Adobe DNG Converter icon. This action automatically starts the converter.

3. Select the folder of images you would like to convert to DNG.

4. Select the location where you would like the new DNG files to be saved.

5. Select the name you would like to use for the new DNG files.

6. Click Convert; a dialog box appears showing the status of the conversion.

7. Open the DNG file in Photoshop Elements 4.0.

Background information

When Photoshop Elements starts, it gathers its preference settings from the preference files. If no preference files are found, then Photoshop Elements uses a set of default cache files to get that preference information. Additions or Changes made to Photoshop Elements plug-ins may not come into effect if these default cache files aren't updated as well.

When you delete the plug-in cache, a new updated Plugin Cache file is created at C:\Documents and Settings\[userprofile]\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\4.0\Editor\PluginCache.psp the next time you quit Photoshop Elements.