AUGIWorld Magazine - September/October 2008 - (Page 26)

AUTOCAD Action Recorder: AutoCAD® 2009 comes with a new feature called the “Action Recorder,” which allows you to record a series of commands and values that are used to complete a task in a drawing. The Action Recorder captures the commands used and the input supplied into a file known as an “action macro.” These action macros are then played back to repeat the same series of commands and values that were captured when the action macro was recorded. In the end, the Action Recorder allows users to create a basic form of customization for performing repetitive tasks. Customization for Beginners • Specify a name and description for the recorded action macro. • Set the behavior of the current view when the action macro is played back. • Control if a check for inconsistencies is done against the current drawing settings. The following steps demonstrate how to record an action macro and save it. The steps explain how to create an action macro that inserts a block onto a specific layer and to modify the block. First, you will create a new layer and then insert a block from the Tool Palette window. After the block is inserted, you will set one of the dynamic properties of the block with the Properties palette. 1. In AutoCAD, create a new drawing and then display the Properties palette and the Tool Palettes window. To display the Properties palette, enter properties at the command prompt and press Enter. To display the Tool Palettes window, enter toolpalettes at the command prompt and press Enter. 2. On the ribbon, click the Tools tab. If the ribbon is not displayed, enter ribbon at the command prompt and press Enter. 3. On the Tools tab, Action Recorder panel, click Record. 4. At the command prompt, enter -layer and press Enter. 5. At the Enter an option prompt, enter m and press Enter. Then for the name of the layer enter Windows and press Enter. 6. At the Enter an option prompt, enter c and press Enter and then for the color value of the layer enter 5 and press Enter three times to end the –LAYER command. 7. On the Tool Palettes window, right-click the window’s title bar and click Annotation and Design from the shortcut menu. 8. On the Tool Palettes window, Architectural tab, click the Window – Imperial tool and specify a point in the drawing window. Figure 2: Action Macro dialog box In the beginning… Customization of AutoCAD was done by writing custom programs using ASCII text editors and files, which required the use of specific conventions and formats. While you can still customize and write custom programs the same way for AutoCAD today, it can make it quite challenging for those new to AutoCAD or those who do not have the time to dedicate to learning a specific syntax or programming language. The Action Recorder helps to make AutoCAD programming and customization accessible to all users, regardless of their level of programming experience. While a user with AutoLISP or VBA programming experience might not find as much value in the Action Recorder, those with little or no experience in writing command macros or script files will find the Action Recorder helpful in automating repetitive tasks. Figure 1: Action Recorder panel NOTE: When recording actions, avoid commands that display dialog boxes to ensure that an action macro plays back consistently each time. To stop recording an action macro, click the Stop button on the Action Recorder or use the ACTSTOP command. Once recording is stopped, you can save or discard the action macro that was recorded. To save an action macro, use the Action Macro dialog box (see Figure 2). From the Action Macro dialog box, you can do the following. Recording actions The Action Recorder captures commands and the values that you provide when a command is active (see Figure 1). The Action Recorder is a panel on the ribbon. You can record actions using the ACTRECORD command, but I highly recommend using the Action Recorder panel on the ribbon. During the recording of an action macro, you can see which commands and values are being recorded on the Action tree of the Action Recorder panel. 26 w w w. A U G I . c o m http://www.augi.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AUGIWorld Magazine - September/October 2008

AUGIWorld Magazine - September/October 2008 Contents The CAD Manager 2008 Salary Survey Save Time with Impression Blocks In the Family Way Structural Stairs Autodesk University 2008 Preview Action Recorder How to Embrace Third-Party Data On the Back Page

AUGIWorld Magazine - September/October 2008

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