Recordable Macro Programs - Mac
Recordable Macro Programs - Win
Recordable Macro Programs - Benefits
- Can automate multiple apps with one macro
- Allow automation in apps that don’t otherwise support it
- Allow automation of tedious tasks for which there is no other straightforward solution
Recordable Macro Programs - Problems
- Crash-prone
- Unexpected results are the norm
- Little portability between machines and none between platforms
- Easy to break, even on the same machine (changing screen resolution, etc.)
Partial solution: application-specific recordable macros
- "Commands" in Fireworks
- "Actions" in Photoshop
Photoshop
- Press record button on Actions Palette
- Perform steps to be repeated
- Select "Action Options..." from Action Palette’s pop-up menu to assign function key
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Fireworks
- Perform steps to be repeated
- Select desired steps from History Palette
- Click "Save steps as command" button
- Assign shortcut with "Keyboard Shortcuts..." from pull-down menu
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Fireworks & Photoshop Macros - Problems
- Clunky to create, still not all that portable
- Inflexible; lack variables or conditionals
- Doesn’t allow easy import of other files, or export of multiple versions of a document
- Solution? when we hit code yellow!
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