Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD

Transcription

1 Contents Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD Usage Scenario Features Covered in This Tutorial Tutorial Files Before You Begin In This Tutorial Lesson 1: Record the Steps to Create a New Layer Lesson 2: Record Commands and Input Values Lesson 3: Stop Recording and Save an Action Macro Lesson 4: Insert a User Message Lesson 5: Insert a Request for User Input Lesson 6: Play Back an Action Macro Lesson 7: Create an Action Macro to Update the Layer for Mtext and Multileaders Using the Properties Palette Lesson 8: Automate Drawing Cleanup Index i

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3 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD Side View of a Deck The above model shows the side view of a deck off the back of a single story house. The side view shows a proposed deck and its overall size and the types of construction materials that will be required. This tutorial outlines the following procedures involved in creating an action macro that records a series of actions for creating a new layer and draw a multileader with two leaders. Audience: AutoCAD users who want to reduce the amount of time and effort spent in performing repetitive tasks. 1

4 Prerequisites: Working knowledge of AutoCAD Time to complete: 35 minutes Usage Scenario John Marc is a structural engineer. His goal at work is to stay productive. Problem: Being a structural engineer, John uses the base drawings that are provided by the architect. John realizes that he is spending a lot of time in repeating the same series of commands. He wants to record the actions for creating a new layer and draw a multileader on the new layer to call out a design element for the deck. Solution: John can use the Action Recorder to help automate repetitive tasks. Benefits of using the Action Recorder are: a b c Increased Productivity: Allows drafters to create action macros and reuse them without having to think about how to create them. This improves the overall drafting experience due to having fewer repetitions. Reduction in Errors and Omissions: Reduces the chance of forgetting an action as compared to completing the same series of steps manually. Flexibility and Adaptability of Action Reenactment: Provides the ability to record a series of actions and later modify, during playback, the initial values that were captured when the actions were recorded. Features Covered in This Tutorial 1 Record the actions used to create a new layer 2 Record the actions used to create a multileader 3 Stop recording and save an action macro 4 Insert a user message in an action macro 5 Insert a request for user input 6 Play back an action macro 7 Create an action macro that changes the layer of objects 2 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

5 8 Remove unused named objects from a drawing Tutorial Files All the necessary files for this tutorial can be found in Recommended Before starting the tutorials: 1 Download the working_with_action_recorder.zip file from 2 Unzip working_with_action_recorder.zip file to C:\My Documents\tutorials. Before You Begin Before you start any of the lessons listed in this tutorial, you must know the following concepts: With action macros, you can automate repetitive tasks without any previous experience in programming. The Action Recorder is a panel on the ribbon and contains the tools to record, playback, and modify an action macro. During the playback, editing, or recording of an action macro, you can expand the Action Recorder panel to access the individual actions of the current action macro from the Action tree. In This Tutorial Lesson 1: Record the Steps to Create a New Layer on page 4 Lesson 2: Record Commands and Input Values on page 6 Lesson 3: Stop Recording and Save an Action Macro on page 9 Lesson 4: Insert a User Message on page 13 Tutorial Files 3

6 Lesson 5: Insert a Request for User Input on page 15 Lesson 6: Play Back an Action Macro on page 18 Lesson 7: Create an Action Macro to Update the Layer for Mtext and Multileaders Using the Properties Palette on page 22 Lesson 8: Automate Drawing Cleanup on page 28 Lesson 1: Record the Steps to Create a New Layer In this lesson, you will help John to record the series of steps for creating a new layer. File Name: deck_side_view.dwg Command Entry: ACTRECORD With Action Recorder, you can create an action macro that makes a new layer and then draws objects on the new layer. Objects that you can draw can be a series of lines to draw a box, hatch, or a multileader. To record the steps to create a new layer 1 Click Start menu (Windows) Programs Autodesk AutoCAD 2009 AutoCAD Click File Open. TIP You can also use the Quick Access toolbar to open a drawing file. For more information about the Quick Access Toolbar, see the AutoCAD User s Guide. 3 Navigate to C:\My Documents\tutorials. Open the deck_side_view.dwg file. 4 On the ribbon, click Tools tab Action Recorder panel Record. 4 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

7 5 At the Command prompt, enter -LAYER and then press ENTER. 6 At the Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/ MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile]: prompt, enter Make and press ENTER. 7 At the Enter name for new layer (becomes the current layer) <0>: prompt, enter Annotation and press ENTER. 8 At the Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/ MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile]: prompt, enter Color and press ENTER. 9 At the New color [Truecolor/COlorbook]: prompt, enter 30 and press ENTER. 10 At the Enter name list of layer(s) for color 30 <Annotation>: prompt, press ENTER. 11 At the Enter an option [?/Make/Set/New/Rename/ON/OFF/Color/Ltype/LWeight/ MATerial/Plot/Freeze/Thaw/LOck/Unlock/stAte/Description/rEconcile]: prompt, press ENTER. You have helped John to record the actions for creating a new layer named "Annotation". Lesson 1: Record the Steps to Create a New Layer 5

8 Next Lesson: Lesson 2: Record Commands and Input Values on page 6 Lesson 2: Record Commands and Input Values In this lesson, you will help John to record commands and input values to create and modify objects. File Name: deck_side_view.dwg Command Entry: ACTRECORD In the previous lesson, you recorded the actions for creating the Annotation layer and set it current. Next, you will create a multileader to call out design elements for the deck. Once the multileader object is drawn, you will add an additional leader to the multileader object to call out the same design element used for the deck. To start recording commands and input values to create and modify objects 1 On the ribbon, click Annotate tab Multileaders panel Multileader. 2 At the Specify leader arrowhead location or [leader Landing first/content first/options] <Options>: prompt, pick the point (lower-left corner of the upper part of the deck railing) as shown in the following illustration. 6 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

9 3 At the Specify leader landing location: prompt, move the crosshairs down and to the left from the first point you picked. When the arrowhead for the multileader can be seen, click in the drawing window. 4 In the In-place Text Editor, type 2x4 RAILING. 5 Click in the drawing window outside the In-place Text Editor. Lesson 2: Record Commands and Input Values 7

10 6 On the ribbon, click Annotate tab Multileaders panel Add Leader. 7 At the Select a multileader: prompt, select the multileader that you created. 8 At the Specify leader arrowhead location: prompt, pick the point (upper-left corner of the side part of the deck railing) as shown in the following illustration and press ENTER. You successfully created a multileader object. 8 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

11 You have helped John to record the commands and input values used to create a multileader object with two leaders on the Annotation layer. Next Lesson: Lesson 3: Stop Recording and Save an Action Macro on page 9 Lesson 3: Stop Recording and Save an Action Macro In this lesson, you will help John to save recorded actions to an action macro file. File Name: deck_side_view.dwg Command Entry: ACTSTOP After recording actions, you have the option to save or discard them as an action macro. If you save an action macro, you must specify a name and optionally, a description and playback settings for the action macro. To stop recording and save an action macro 1 On the ribbon, click Tools tab Action Recorder panel Stop. 2 In the Action Macro dialog box, do the following: In the Action Macro Command Name box, enter DoubleLeader. Lesson 3: Stop Recording and Save an Action Macro 9

12 In the Description box, enter Creates a multileader with two leaders. 10 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

13 3 Click OK. Lesson 3: Stop Recording and Save an Action Macro 11

14 You have helped John to save an action macro that creates a new layer and then draws a multileader object on the Annotation layer. Next Lesson: Lesson 4: Insert a User Message on page Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

15 Lesson 4: Insert a User Message In this lesson, you will help John to learn how to insert a user message in an action macro. File Name: deck_side_view.dwg Command Entry: ACTUSERMESSAGE User messages can be inserted into an action macro to provide information about specific instructions for playing back an action macro. To insert a user message 1 On the ribbon, click Tools tab Action Recorder panel. Click the panel's title bar to expand the panel. 2 In the Action Tree, right-click the DoubleLeader node. 3 Click Insert User Message. Lesson 4: Insert a User Message 13

16 4 In the Insert User Message dialog box, enter Creates a multileader with two leaders. During playback you are prompted for the placement of the leaders and the multiline text (mtext) for the multileader. 5 Click OK. You have helped John to insert a user message in an action macro. 14 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

17 Next Lesson: Lesson 5: Insert a Request for User Input on page 15 Lesson 5: Insert a Request for User Input In this lesson, you will help John to learn how to insert a request for user input. File Name: deck_side_view.dwg Command Entry: ACTUSERINPUT To insert a request for user input 1 On the ribbon, click Tools tab Action Recorder panel. Click the panel's title bar to expand the panel. 2 In the Action Tree, right-click the Absolute Coordinate Point value node under the MLEADER action node. Lesson 5: Insert a Request for User Input 15

18 3 Click Request User Input. 4 Right-click the Relative Coordinate Point value node under the MLEADER action node. 5 Click Request User Input. 16 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

19 6 Right-click Text Formatting node value under the MLEADER action node and click Request User Input. 7 Right-click the Relative Coordinate Point value node under the AIMLEADEREDITADD action node and click Request User Input. Lesson 5: Insert a Request for User Input 17

20 You have helped John to insert multiple requests for user input. Next Lesson: Lesson 6: Play Back an Action Macro on page 18 Lesson 6: Play Back an Action Macro In this lesson, you will help John to learn how to play back an action macro from the Action Recorder. File Name: deck_side_view.dwg After an action macro is recorded with the Action Recorder, you can play back the series of recorded commands and input values. To play back an action macro 1 On the ribbon, click Tools tab. 2 On the Action Recorder panel, click the down arrow on the Action Macro drop-down list and select DoubleLeader. 18 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

21 3 On the Action Recorder panel, click Play. 4 In the User Message dialog box, click Yes. 5 In the Action Macro - Input Request dialog box, click Provide input. Lesson 6: Play Back an Action Macro 19

22 6 Pick the endpoint of the line between the two side views of the 2x10 joists as shown in the following illustration. 7 In the Action Macro - Input Request dialog box, click Provide input. 8 Move the crosshairs down below the ground line and to the left from the first point you picked and pick a point in the drawing. 9 In the In-place Text Editor, type 2 PLY 2x10 HEADER. 20 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

23 10 Click in the drawing window outside the In-place Text Editor. 11 In the Action Macro - Request Input dialog box, click Provide input. 12 Pick the endpoint of the line between the two side views of the 2x10 joists as shown in the following illustration. 13 In the Action Macro - Playback Complete dialog box, click OK. Lesson 6: Play Back an Action Macro 21

24 You have helped John to play back the series of recorded actions to create a multileader with two leaders. Next Lesson: Lesson 7: Create an Action Macro to Update the Layer for Mtext and Multileaders Using the Properties Palette on page 22 Lesson 7: Create an Action Macro to Update the Layer for Mtext and Multileaders Using the Properties Palette In this lesson, you will help John to create an action macro to update the layer for mtext and multileaders using the Properties palette. File Name: deck_side_view.dwg Command Entry: ACTRECORD, ACTSTOP 22 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

25 You can create an action macro to display and change the current properties for any object in your drawing using the Properties palette. To create an action macro to update the layer for mtext and multileaders using the Properties palette 1 On the ribbon, click View tab > Palettes panel > Properties. The Properties Palette is displayed. NOTE You can move the Properties palette anywhere in the drawing area to make the Action Recorder panel visible. 2 On the ribbon, click Tools tab Action Recorder panel Record. 3 Select the mtext DECK SIDE VIEW and one of the multileaders in the drawing window as shown in the illustration. 4 On the Properties palette, select MText(1) from the Object Type drop-down list and then choose Annotation from the Layer property. Lesson 7: Create an Action Macro to Update the Layer for Mtext and Multileaders Using the Properties Palette 23

26 5 On the Properties palette, select Multileader(1) from the Object Type drop-down list and then choose Annotation from the Layer property. 6 On the ribbon, click Tools tab Action Recorder panel Stop. 7 In the Action Macro dialog box, Action Macro Command Name box, enter FixLayers. 24 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

27 8 Click OK. 9 On the Action Recorder panel, in the Action tree, right-click the Pickfirst value node under the action macro node. 10 Click Use Pick First Set. Lesson 7: Create an Action Macro to Update the Layer for Mtext and Multileaders Using the Properties Palette 25

28 11 On the Quick Access Toolbar, click Undo a few times to undo the recent property changes made with the Properties palette. 12 On the Action Recorder panel, select FixLayers from the Action Macro list. 13 Click Play. 14 In the Action Macro - No Objects Selected dialog box, click Select Objects and Continue. 26 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

29 15 In the drawing window, select mtext and multileader objects in the drawing window and press ENTER to complete the object selection. 16 In the Action Macro - Playback Complete dialog box, click OK. You should notice that the color of the mtext has changed because the selected objects are now on the Annotation layer. 17 On the Quick Access Toolbar, click Undo again to undo the changes made by the action macro. 18 Select mtext and mulitleader objects and click Play. NOTE The Action Macro - No Objects Selected dialog box is not displayed this time. You have created an action macro to update the layer for mtext and multileaders using the Properties palette. Lesson 7: Create an Action Macro to Update the Layer for Mtext and Multileaders Using the Properties Palette 27

30 Next Lesson: Lesson 8: Automate Drawing Cleanup on page 28 Lesson 8:Automate Drawing Cleanup In this lesson, you will help John to learn how to automate drawing cleanup. File Name: deck_side_view.dwg Command Entry: ACTRECORD, ACTSTOP You can create an action macro to remove unused named objects like layers, linetypes, and text styles in a drawing using the PURGE command. To automate drawing cleanup 1 On the ribbon, click Tools tab Action Recorder panel Record. 2 At the Command prompt, enter -PURGE and press ENTER. 3 At the Enter type of unused objects to purge [Blocks/Dimstyles/LAyers/LTypes/MAterials/MUltileaderstyles/Plotstyles/ SHapes/textSTyles/Mlinestyles/Tablestyles/Visualstyles/Regapps/All]: prompt, enter la and press ENTER. 4 At the Enter name (s) to purge <*>: prompt, enter * and press ENTER. 5 At the Verify each name to be purged? [Yes/No] <Y>: prompt, enter n and press ENTER. 6 At the Command prompt, enter -PURGE and press ENTER. 7 At the Enter type of unused objects to purge [Blocks/Dimstyles/LAyers/LTypes/MAterials/MUltileaderstyles/Plotstyles/ SHapes/textSTyles/Mlinestyles/Tablestyles/Visualstyles/Regapps/All]: prompt, enter lt and press ENTER. 28 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

31 8 At the Enter name (s) to purge <*>: prompt, enter * and press ENTER. 9 At the Verify each name to be purged? [Yes/No] <Y>: prompt, enter n and press ENTER. 10 Click File Save. TIP You can also use the Quick Access toolbar to save the changes. For more information about the Quick Access Toolbar, see the AutoCAD User s Guide. 11 On the ribbon, click Tools tab Action Recorder panel Stop. 12 In the Action Macro dialog box, Action Macro Command Name box, enter DrawingCleanup. 13 Click OK. 14 On the Quick Access toolbar, click Undo a few times. 15 On the Action Recorder panel, select DrawingCleanup from the Action Macro list. 16 Click Play. Lesson 8:Automate Drawing Cleanup 29

32 17 In the Action Macro - Playback Complete dialog box, click OK. You have helped John to automate the drawing cleanup process. Congratulations! You have helped John to create an action macro that records a series of actions for creating a layer and draw a multileader with two leaders on a new layer. You also helped him to create an action macro to update the layer for mtext and multileaders using the Properties palette, and to automate the cleanup of a drawing. 30 Chapter 1 Working with Action Recorder in AutoCAD 2009

33 Index 31 Index

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