Current macro capability

[Paul Chiswick]

Apologies if this has been covered recently.

I cannot do certain things in macros and I wonder if they are possible.

1. Cannot insert text (no user interaction)

2. Cannot find how to pause macro for user input.

3, Cannot group layers.

Am I missing something, or are these not possible?

Thanks.

[smadell]

As to numbers 1 and 2, you cannot pause a macro mid-stream for user interaction. However, some of the steps in any given macro are likely to allow some settings to be user-specified. Once you have your macro constructed, some of the steps in the Macro panel will display a "gear" icon to the right; click on this gear to see a list of settings that can be specified by a user. Most of these involve pre-determined choices (such as a choice of the Blend Modes, setting Opacity levels, many of the sliders in an Adjustment, and so forth). All of these settings are presented to the user when the full macro is executed, and changing any of the default settings will cause the complete macro to play again with those updated settings. Not as good as Photoshop-style interaction, but it's something!

As to number 3, creating Groups is quite possible and powerful. I've found that the easiest way to do this is as follows: (1) create a new Layer (whatever will be the bottom-most layer in the eventual group; (2) with that layer selected, choose "New Group" from the menu or from the icons at the bottom of the Layers panel; (3) optionally, name the group; (4) with the Group selected, expand the group (click on the triangle to reveal its contents) and select the layer which is now inside – AP will ask you to confirm that you want to select the "first child layer" and you should click OK; (5) Now you are inside the Group and creating additional layers, filters, adjustments, etc. will put them inside the group. (6) To exit the group, you must first choose the Group layer itself (and AP will ask you to confirm that you want to select the Parent layer – click OK). Proceed as normal outside of the Group.

Alternatively, you can create a layer (of any type) and choose New Group. Now, if you create additional layers (without first "entering" the Group) you can do so. If you immediately choose "Move Inside" from the menu, the newly form layer will be placed into the Group, on top of whatever else is inside the Group.

[Paul Chiswick]

Thank you . . . I'll eplore your answer . . .