Index

USING WINDOWS MACRO RECORDER IN AUTOCAD

Many AutoCAD users in the DOS world have painstakenly reassigned the function keys to run  their own macros using ANSI.SYS. In the Windows version of AutoCAD these reassignments can not be done with ANSI.SYS. However, there is a much better and more powerful tool that you can use and its FREE! I am talking about Windows own RECORDER application. RECORDER can be used to create your own very specific macros and assign them to virtually any key or keystroke combination including your function keys.

The following  tutorial details the procedure for using RECORDER with AutoCAD.

Tutorial

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Recording
RECORDING YOUR MACROS

Steps

1.	Start AutoCAD.

2.	Start the windows RECORDER application by clicking on the RECORDER icon usually found in the Accessories group in File Manager. As an alternative, from either File Manager or Program Manager select File|Run and type RECORDER as shown in the graphic below.

3.	When RECORDER has started select Macro|Record from the pull down menu to start the process of detailing the properties of your macro.

4.	The next window that comes up allows you to enter various different properties for the macro you are going to record. Only the pertinent fields will be discussed here. If you need details on any of the other fields, use the online help in RECORDER.

i	Enter a descriptive name for your macro in the Record Macro Name edit box. The name you enter here will be listed in the main window of RECORDER, so be somewhat descriptive so that you can easily recognize your macros.

ii	Select the appropriate Shortcut Key from the pull down list.

iii	If you just want to use the function key alone make sure you clear all of the X's from the Ctrl/Shift/Alt toggles.

iv	For guaranteed results select the Ignore Mouse choice from the Record Mouse pull down list.

v	Make sure that Playback is set to Same Application and that the Relative To: field is set to Window.

vi	It is not required, but adding a description may help you recall the purpose or function of a particularly complex macro.

vii	Once you have specified all of your options press the start button.

5.	After pressing the start button the macro RECORDER should be minimized automatically. Make AutoCAD the active application and prepare yourself for entering your macro.

6.	Type all of your commands at the AutoCAD command prompt. Accuracy counts as the RECORDER is memorizing everything you type, including your mistakes. As an example of a useful macro, create one for quickly clearing selected GRIPS. type the following at the command prompt as shown below:  (note that <enter> means press the ENTER key)

Command: grips<enter>

New value for GRIPS<1>: <enter>

Command:

7.	When you have entered all of the commands, pick the flashing RECORDER icon with your mouse. The following dialogue box will appear giving you the option to save the macro, continue recording or to cancel it altogether.

8.	Make RECORDER the active application and you will see the macro you just defined listed.  At this point you should save your macro file by selecting File|Save from the menu. Note that you can have multiple macros defined in a single file. Ideally you might save this macro file as AUTOCAD.REC and define all of your AutoCAD macros in this file.

9.	Now that your macros are defined they are immediately available in AutoCAD. Return to AutoCAD and test them out. If your macro does not perform as you would like, you will have to delete the old macro and re-record it.

10.	In order for these macros to work within AutoCAD the RECORDER application must be running with your "AUTOCAD" macro file opened. You may want to add the RECORDER icon to your StartUp group in Program Manager and pass it the name of your recorder file on the command line so that everytime Windows starts your AutoCAD macros will be ready.


Shortcut
Shortcut Keys

Shortcut keys can be virtually any key on the keyboard including keystroke combinations with the Ctrl, Shift or Alt keys. This means that your are not limited to only the functions keys. Remember though that most of us have good memories but they are short. So if you come up with combinations like CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+F12 you better have a cheat sheet nearby instead of guessing (just in case that was the macro for Quit without saving!!).

Note that you can use any alphanumeric character as a shortcut key but they are best used in combination with CTRL or ALT otherwise you will have a hard time typing since these macros will supercede the regular meaning of the key. This warning applies to any key combination!


Guarantee
GUARANTEEING YOUR RESULTS

The Windows RECORDER memorizes the events with respect to your current system properties. Things like screen resolution and positioning of windows can have an affect on your macro. As well as this, AutoCAD has the ability to load custom menus and to zoom around within the drawing area, both of which could affect a macro's performance.

To get the best results, select the Ignore Mouse option and type all of your commands at the AutoCAD command prompt.


Preplanning
PREPLANNING YOUR MACRO

A little preplanning can go along way in recording a macro. Because the macro can not be edited (except for its properties like shortcut key and name) careful typing is required. If you have a multi-step macro that you make a mistake part way through, you must start back at the beginning and re-record it.

Typing or writing out complex macros before actually recording them can help prevent errors.


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