Create, save, and edit a simple macro.
Transcript
00:04
You can use the Action Recorder to record commands and actions that you perform in AutoCAD,
00:08
save those actions as macros, and then play them back to automate repetitive tasks.
00:13
Macros can be used to: create new geometry
00:19
modify existing geometry
00:20
perform utility functions to establish specific settings that might otherwise require multiple steps
00:26
You can record and access macro settings from the Manage tab, Action Recorder panel.
00:33
Expanding the Action Recorder panel displays the Action Tree of the currently selected action macro.
00:40
When recording an action macro, you can capture selections made or user input provided at the command line,
00:47
in toolbars, in ribbon panels, in menus, and in palettes.
00:53
One exception is that the Action Recorder does not record property changes made from a dialog box
00:59
in the Properties or Quick Properties palette.
01:03
In this case, you need to use the command line version instead.
01:07
For example, to insert a block, you can use the command -INSERT.
01:12
This is the INSERT command preceded by a hyphen to suppress the dialog box.
01:17
To create an action macro, on the Action Recorder panel, click Record to activate recording.
01:24
For this example, switch to the Home tab, Draw panel, and click Circle.
01:30
In the drawing, note the red dot beside the curser to indicate that your actions are being recorded.
01:37
Click to place the center point, drag to define the size, and then click again to create the circle.
01:43
Switch back to the Manage tab, Action Recorder panel, and click Stop.
01:49
The Action Macro dialog box appears, where you can add a name for your macro.
01:55
In this example, name the macro Simple_Circle, and then click OK.
02:02
Expand the Action Recorder panel to display the Action Tree,
02:05
and then click the pin so that it remains open.
02:08
The Action Tree displays the steps that were recorded when you created the macro.
02:14
Click Play to add another circle to your drawing.
02:18
When you close the Playback Complete notification, the new circle is not visible,
02:22
because the macro is set to add the circle at the exact same position as the first one.
02:28
Select the circles, then right-click and select Quick Properties.
02:32
You can now see that there are two circles selected.
02:36
Press ESC to close the Quick Properties window.
02:39
You can edit the macro so that the circle is not always positioned in the same location.
02:45
In the Action Tree, right-click the center point location and select Pause for User Input, so that you can specify a custom location.
02:54
Click Play again, and notice you are now prompted to specify a center point.
02:59
A new circle is added in your chosen location, but with the same diameter,
03:04
since you did not change that setting in the Action Tree.
03:07
To manage your action macros, expand the Action Macro drop-down, and select Manage Action Macros.
03:14
In the Action Macro Manager, you can copy, rename, modify, and delete a selected macro.
03:22
Clicking Modify opens the Action Macro dialog box used to create the macro.
00:04
You can use the Action Recorder to record commands and actions that you perform in AutoCAD,
00:08
save those actions as macros, and then play them back to automate repetitive tasks.
00:13
Macros can be used to: create new geometry
00:19
modify existing geometry
00:20
perform utility functions to establish specific settings that might otherwise require multiple steps
00:26
You can record and access macro settings from the Manage tab, Action Recorder panel.
00:33
Expanding the Action Recorder panel displays the Action Tree of the currently selected action macro.
00:40
When recording an action macro, you can capture selections made or user input provided at the command line,
00:47
in toolbars, in ribbon panels, in menus, and in palettes.
00:53
One exception is that the Action Recorder does not record property changes made from a dialog box
00:59
in the Properties or Quick Properties palette.
01:03
In this case, you need to use the command line version instead.
01:07
For example, to insert a block, you can use the command -INSERT.
01:12
This is the INSERT command preceded by a hyphen to suppress the dialog box.
01:17
To create an action macro, on the Action Recorder panel, click Record to activate recording.
01:24
For this example, switch to the Home tab, Draw panel, and click Circle.
01:30
In the drawing, note the red dot beside the curser to indicate that your actions are being recorded.
01:37
Click to place the center point, drag to define the size, and then click again to create the circle.
01:43
Switch back to the Manage tab, Action Recorder panel, and click Stop.
01:49
The Action Macro dialog box appears, where you can add a name for your macro.
01:55
In this example, name the macro Simple_Circle, and then click OK.
02:02
Expand the Action Recorder panel to display the Action Tree,
02:05
and then click the pin so that it remains open.
02:08
The Action Tree displays the steps that were recorded when you created the macro.
02:14
Click Play to add another circle to your drawing.
02:18
When you close the Playback Complete notification, the new circle is not visible,
02:22
because the macro is set to add the circle at the exact same position as the first one.
02:28
Select the circles, then right-click and select Quick Properties.
02:32
You can now see that there are two circles selected.
02:36
Press ESC to close the Quick Properties window.
02:39
You can edit the macro so that the circle is not always positioned in the same location.
02:45
In the Action Tree, right-click the center point location and select Pause for User Input, so that you can specify a custom location.
02:54
Click Play again, and notice you are now prompted to specify a center point.
02:59
A new circle is added in your chosen location, but with the same diameter,
03:04
since you did not change that setting in the Action Tree.
03:07
To manage your action macros, expand the Action Macro drop-down, and select Manage Action Macros.
03:14
In the Action Macro Manager, you can copy, rename, modify, and delete a selected macro.
03:22
Clicking Modify opens the Action Macro dialog box used to create the macro.
