http://imagej.273.s1.nabble.com/batch-conversion-of-images-tp5020776p5020777.html
> I write Java plugins. I'm a complete novice at writing macros,
> or even "shortcuts". So, I thought I would ask here to see
> if what I need has already been done 100 times, or if it's
> so trivial that an experienced developer can just type it
> off the top of their head.
>
> Failing that, I'll probably write a Java plugin to do this.
>
> The good news is that I don't need it NOW. I just performed this
> task manually...because it had to be done IMMEDIATELY and
> I calculated that I could do it manually about as fast, if not faster,
> than building a tool. But...this task will return, so it's time
> to build the tool.
>
> The task: given a directory full of images of type A (say, .tif files)
> convert them all to type B (say, .png files). Keep the same names,
> probably deposit the results in the same directory (although that looks
> like the first "bell & whistle" to add).
>
> In the past (probably using plain ImageJ) I build a shortcut which saved the
> current image as PNG and closed it. Then, I would load a directory full of
> images into ImageJ and pound on that shortcut key. Worked great.
>
> Until last week - when:
>
> a) the shortcut disappeared (there has been turmoil...)
> b) when I tried to recreate it, I found that "Save As PNG" defaulted
> to a directory OTHER THAN the one from which the current image had
> been loaded.
>
> At that point, I gave up, and did a manual sequence of "Save As...", "PNG",
> ..."close window". And moved on to the next task.
>
> What I'd like to have is a macro which itself calls a second macro.
> The second macro should have a reserved name (such as "CustomConvertImage"),
> which I can edit separately. The first macro would be responsible for
> loading a directory full of images (is it possible to filter on
> extension?), and sequentially apply "CustomConvertImage" to each image. I
> suspect that it's best to let "CustomConvertImage" actually SAVE the image
> file, because that's where the format conversion actually gets done.
> (or....is it? Is it possible to specify that an existing image *should be
> later* saved as (say) "PNG", and then later call a neutral "save Image". I
> just thought of that, but don't recall seeing it anywhere.
> Anyway..."CustomConvertImage" would need to be told, somehow, what
> directory to write to.
>
> This has gone on far too long - I hope that what I'm asking for is clear.
>
> As I say, I'm confident that this is something I can do easily in Java, but
> a full-on Java plugin seems like overkill for this task.
>
> All help gratefully accepted.
>
> --
> Kenneth Sloan
>
[hidden email]
> Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.
>
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