Use existing action macros

00:04

Action macros allow you to automate repetitive tasks in AutoCAD without the need for programming skills.

00:10

These macros can be saved, replayed, and shared with others.

00:15

You access action macros from the ribbon, Manage tab, in the Action Recorder panel.

00:21

From here, you can record, edit, and play macros.

00:25

To play back an existing macro, expand the Action Macro drop-down and select a saved macro.

00:31

For this example, select Hexagon_Fillet_4in.

00:36

A selected macro does not automatically run until you click Play.

00:40

In this case, click Play, and you are prompted to select the center of the polygon.

00:46

When you do, the macro adds a 4-inch filleted hexagon to your drawing.

00:51

Then, a notification appears indicating that the playback of the action macro is complete.

00:57

Notice that you can also choose not to see this notification again.

01:01

Click Close.

01:04

Other macros can use the same tool—in this case, the polygon object—and do something different with it.

01:11

From the Action Macro drop-down, select Pentagon_4in, and then click Play.

01:16

In the drawing, specify a center point to add a 4-inch standard polygon with five sides.

01:23

Continue to select and play macros from the saved list.

01:26

For example, add another Hexagon_Fillet_4in polygon to your drawing.

01:32

The settings in the last macro that you used are retained by AutoCAD.

01:36

To illustrate this, from the Home tab, Draw panel, select the Polygon object.

01:43

Since a filleted hexagon was the last macro used,

01:46

the prompt is set for a 6-sided circumscribed polygon.

01:50

Press ESC to exit this command.

01:53

To reset the polygon settings to their defaults, return to the Manage tab, Action Recorder panel.

01:59

From the Action Macro drop-down, select Polygon_Reset, and then click Play.

02:05

The Playback Complete notification appears, and when you close it, nothing has visibly changed.

02:11

However, if you return to the Home tab, Draw panel, and select the Polygon object again,

02:17

you see that the prompt is now set to a default 4-sided inscribed polygon.