Macro with exporting file function

[Arne Drews]

Hi,

 

I would like to use the export function for files in a macro ( File -> Export ).

But Affinity then reports that this function is not supported in macros.
This is a pity, because it would simplify a lot of things for me.

My use case is, for example, that I rasterize images, resize them and then export them as PNG and close the document directly without saving. This could be done by one click on a macro, if all processes were supported 😉

I could take all this before (Adobe) and was done with one click. Now I can capture the raster and size, but I still have to export it by hand. This makes the closing process an additional single process, which would be unnecessary at this point.

It would be great, if this is supported again.
 

regards

Arne

Edited August 14, 2020 by Arne Drews

[Dan C]

Hi @Arne Drews,

Welcome to the forums

You're correct in terms that Macros do not support exporting - however you may be able to achieve this workflow using Macros and Batch processing.

6 hours ago, Arne Drews said:

My use case is, for example, that I rasterize images, resize them and then export them as PNG

Can you confirm for me, are all of your source images the same size? And are you always resizing to the same size?

Thanks in advance!

[Arne Drews]

Hi @Dan C

Thanks for welcome me. Nice to see that my english is understood by you 😁

 

Yes, you're right, all source images should be rasterized and resized to the same target size.

I thought about batch too, but to process about five images I decided that it's not the smartes way.

If you think I'm wrong, please let me know how I can do that with a batch?

 

Thanks for help!

😎

[John Rostron]

12 hours ago, Arne Drews said:

If you think I'm wrong, please let me know how I can do that with a batch?

You first need to write the macro to operate on each file. If, as you say, all files are resized to the same dimensions, then that should not be a problem. The macro should be saved in a library file, (.afmacros).

Call up File > New Batch Job. You can enter the location of your source files, your output files and the output format. Note, however that the default output format is afphoto. I often forget to unselect this! You can also select one or more macros to apply from macro library files.

Let us know how you get on.

John

 

[walt.farrell]

3 hours ago, John Rostron said:

The macro should be saved in a library file, (.afmacros).

Shouldn't the macro be saved in the Library, rather than in a library file, if it is to be used in a Batch Job?

[John Rostron]

1 hour ago, walt.farrell said:

Shouldn't the macro be saved in the Library, rather than in a library file, if it is to be used in a Batch Job?

As far as I can recall, when I save a macro into a library file it goes into the Library. If I create a new entry into the Library (from the hamburger dropdown) it creates it in the Library.  I can then export this as an .afmacros file.

You are right, however, in that when selecting a macro for a batch job, it has to be in the Library. So you do not have to export it to use it in a batch.

[David in Яuislip]

On 8/14/2020 at 9:25 AM, Arne Drews said:

My use case is, for example, that I rasterize images, resize them and then export them as PNG and close the document directly without saving.

I may have misunderstood but if the images are completed and you are only opening them in Photo to resize and save as png then this can be automated by a Batch Job

[walt.farrell]

54 minutes ago, John Rostron said:

As far as I can recall, when I save a macro into a library file it goes into the Library. If I create a new entry into the Library (from the hamburger dropdown) it creates it in the Library.  I can then export this as an .afmacros file.

Right. From the Macro panel, you can (a) save it into the Library or (b) export it as a "single-macro" file, with extension .afmacro.

As you need it in the Library in order to use it, approach (a) of simply saving it into the library is the way to go