Lots of limitations in Macros -- can't automate Copy for example

[PeterinJapan]

I am trying to get my old Photoshop efficiency in Affinity Photo, and things are going well. But since there's no functionality for Applescript or Javascript automation, the Macro feature becomes super important. Sadly, it just doesn't record what I need to record. I need to set a selection, copy it, paste that copied bitmap, move it over and then crop...but "copy" is not something the Macro can do. Is there any help for me?

For Mac users, you can get around a lot of these limitations with Keyboard Maestro. For example I can get around the limitation of not being able to record Export by setting the filename I need in the clipboard via an Applescript then using UI scripting to export, then paste the filename then hit return.

But I don't think I can get around not being able to copy parts of an image. ^_^;;

Does anyone have any advice for me? 

[firstdefence]

I can create a macro that copies and pastes, the oddity is the copy is not added to the macro steps but paste is making it look like copy hasn't recorded, probably an oversight in the macro script, but even though it looks like it hasn't recorded copy it's still there and the macro runs as it should. (see carl123 response to the strike out text)

 

[PeterinJapan]

Thanks! Unfortunately...selecting the copy menu item leads to a repeatable crash on my M1 Macbook with Mac OS 11.1. I'll open a bug report and attach the crash report.

[carl123]

46 minutes ago, firstdefence said:

and the macro runs as it should.

Not really, the copy part copy's whatever you copied from the original image when you recorded the macro and stores that in the macro

So, if you replay it on another image it pastes the data copied from the 1st image which is not usually/always what you want it to do

[firstdefence]

6 minutes ago, carl123 said:

Not really, the copy part copy's whatever you copied from the original image when you recorded the macro and stores that in the macro

So, if you replay it on another image it pastes the data copied from the 1st image which is not usually/always what you want it to do

Thanks for the heads up on that Carl and duly noted.

[PeterinJapan]

Hoping for a resolution to this. Definitely my intention is to copy new information from a new information from the file I'm looking at, not what I copied when I recorded the macro. 

[carl123]

 

On 12/24/2020 at 7:12 AM, PeterinJapan said:

I need to set a selection, copy it, paste that copied bitmap, move it over and then crop.

Duplicate (Ctrl+J) may do what you want...

Make your selection
Duplicate it (Ctrl+J)
Move it where you want it