Macros

[Szan]

Welcome everybody!

 

Is it possible to select other layers or background, move and group layers together while recording macros? I get message "Cannot record 'set current selection' ". Am I doing something wrong or it's simple not doable?

Another thing - while recording a macro, can I play another macro?

[Szan]

Ok, I understand, that all this cannot be done yet. 

But, I've seen (Your macros video tutorial) that You can change a layer name while recording. I can't ("Cannot record 'set description'). Any idea why?

[R C-R]

Did you try to set the description of some other layer besides the one that was selected when the macro started? I don't think you can do that for the same reason you can't set the current selection to anything other than the one already selected when you start recording the macro: since there could be any number of layers when you play a macro, there is no way for it to know which of them to select.

[Szan]

I'm trying to rename the layer which is selected. Even if I have only one layer, I can't rename it.

And there is quite simple way for macros to know which layer to select - custom names:). For example If I name my first layer "sky", then number of added layers doesn't matter as I can ask to select the "sky". Right?:)

[R C-R]

For example If I name my first layer "sky", then number of added layers doesn't matter as I can ask to select the "sky". Right?

 

So what would you want to happen if you run that kind of macro on a document that does not have a layer named "sky"?

 

EDIT: Try this:

1. Open a new document. (It will have no layers.)

2. In the Macro panel, click Record.

3. From the Layers panel or Layer menu, add a new layer.

4. In the Layers panel, click on the new layer in the text area & give it a name.

5. Press Return to deselect it.

6. Click on the layer again in the layers panel to select it.

 

Steps 1-5 should be recorded with no problems. At Step 6 you should get a popup giving you a choice of what to select, one of which should be the layer by the name you just gave it.

 

Does that all happen? If not, what does?

Edited December 28, 2016 by R C-R

[Ayzara]

Is there a way to convert photoshop actions to afmacros? Or is there a way to display the text of an action so that I can recreate it as a macro? I don't have access to PS anymore. Thanks for your assistance.

[Szan]

 

 

So what would you want to happen if you run that kind of macro on a document that does not have a layer named "sky"?

But there will be a layer named "sky" because this very macro will create it.;) But even if there will be macros, that call to non existing layers it will simply stop with warning. The same is happening with actions in PS.

 

 

1. Open a new document. (It will have no layers.)

2. In the Macro panel, click Record.

3. From the Layers panel or Layer menu, add a new layer.

4. In the Layers panel, click on the new layer in the text area & give it a name.

5. Press Return to deselect it.

6. Click on the layer again in the layers panel to select it.

Numer 5 gives me Macro Recorder warning Cannot record "set description" and revert layer to original name.

[R C-R]

Numer 5 gives me Macro Recorder warning Cannot record "set description" and revert layer to original name.

All I can tell you is it works fine for me. However, I did leave out a step between 5 & 6, which is to deselect the now named layer -- just pressing Return only sets the name & adds the "Set description" step to the macro. Deselecting it is a separate step but either way, "Set description" is added to the macro.

 

Which app version & platform (Mac or Windows) are you using? That might explain the difference.

[Szan]

I'm on Windows 10, AP version 1.5.0.45

[Leigh]

Ok, I understand, that all this cannot be done yet. 

But, I've seen (Your macros video tutorial) that You can change a layer name while recording. I can't ("Cannot record 'set description'). Any idea why?

 

This is a known bug and has been logged with our developers here: https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/32611-ap-macros-cannot-record-renaming-a-layer/