Thanks to the very smart people at Elements Village, I have updated my instructions for installing actions in Photoshop Elements.

This tip that I read about in the Elements Village forum is a great timesaver.  You usually do not need to delete the two database files to refresh your Effects Palette and find your new actions.  Whew!  That’s great, because I get very impatient waiting for Elements to rebuild the databases.

Instead, after you have copied your actions into the appropriate installation folder, open Elements.  If you don’t see the actions in the Effects Palette, click on the Filters button.  This button is the first on the left under the word Effects.  Then, go back and click again on the Photo Effects button and you should be able to find your new action!

If not, bummer, you do need to follow the method for deleting the databases.  Good luck!