Start Recording an Action Macro

You start recording actions on the Action Recorder panel. To display the Action Recorder panel and to start recording, follow these steps:

1. On the ribbon, click the Manage tab.
2. On the Action Recorder panel, click Record.

Record Actions from the Tool Palettes Window

You can use tools from a tool palette and then play back the action that is performed by a tool. From the Tool Palettes window, you will place the I Beam - Imperial dynamic block from the Structural tool palette. Follow these steps:

1. At the Command prompt, enter toolpalettes to display the Tool Palettes window.
2. At the Command prompt, enter properties to display the Properties palette.
3. In the Tool Palettes window, under the All Palettes group, click the Structural tab.
4. On the Structural tab, click the I Beam - Imperial tool.
5. On the Properties palette, under the Custom category, click the Beam Sizes field.
6. On the Beam Sizes drop-down list, select IPE A 140.
7. In the drawing window, specify the insertion point for the block.

Stop Recording and Save an Action Macro

After all the actions have been recorded, you stop recording and save the recorded actions to an action macro file. Follow these steps:

1. On the Action Recorder panel, click Stop.
2. In the Action Macro dialog box, do the following
   • In the Action Macro Command Name box, enter InsertIPEA140.
   • In the Description box, enter Inserts an IPE A 140 beam.
3. Click OK.

Remove Action Nodes

When you record an action macro, at times additional actions are recorded that you do not need. For example, while recording the action macro you displayed the Tool Palettes window and the Properties palette. Those action nodes are not needed in order to play back the action macro. To remove action nodes from the action macro, follow these steps:

1. On the Action Recorder panel, click the title bar to expand the panel.
2. In the Action tree, select the TOOLPALETTES action node under the Action Macro node and right-click. Click Delete.
3. Select the Properties action node and right-click. Click Delete.

Play Back the Action Macro

When you play back the action macro, you are prompted to specify the insertion point of the block. To see the results of the action macro, follow these steps:

1. On the Action Recorder panel, on the Action Macro list, select InsertIPEA140.
2. Click Play.
3. When prompted to specify a base point, click a base point in the drawing window to insert the block.

   As the block is inserted, the beam size selected on the Properties palette is reflected on-screen.

4. In the Action Macro - Playback Complete dialog box, click OK.