Adobe Illustrator CS4 - Manual (Page 445)

438 USING ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS4
Automating tasks
Insert nonrecordable tasks into actions
Not all tasks in actions can be recorded directly. For example, you can’t record commands in the Effects and View
menus, commands that display or hide panels, and use of the Selection, Pen, Paintbrush, Pencil, Gradient, Mesh,
Eyedropper, Live Paint Bucket, and Scissors tools.
To tell which tasks cannot be recorded, watch the Actions panel. If the name of the command or tool doesn’t appear
after you perform the task, you may still be able to add the task using commands in the Actions panel menu.
To insert a nonrecordable task after you create an action, select an item within the action after which you want to
insert the task. Then choose the appropriate command from the Actions panel menu.
See also
“ Actions panel overview ” on page 436
Insert a nonrecordable menu command
1 Choose Insert Menu Item from the Actions panel menu.
2 Select the command from its menu, or begin typing the command name in the text box, and click Find. Then click OK.
Insert a path
❖ Select the path, and choose Insert Select Path from the Actions panel menu.
Insert selection of an object
1 Enter a name for the object in the Note box of the Attributes panel before you start recording. (Select Show Note
from the Attributes panel menu to display the Note box.)
2 When you record the action, choose Select Object from the Actions panel menu.
3 Enter the name of the object, and click OK.
Record optimization options for multiple slices in the Save For Web dialog box
❖ Set the slice optimization options before you start recording the action; then press Alt (Windows) or Option
(Mac
OS) and click Remember in the Save For Web dialog box.
When you record the action, Illustrator will remember the settings.
Insert a stop
You can include stops in an action that let you perform a task that cannot be recorded (for example, using a painting
tool). After you complete the task, click the Play button in the Actions panel to complete the action.
You can also display a short message when the action reaches the stop as a reminder of what needs to be done before
continuing with the action. You can include a Continue button in the message box in case no other task needs to be done.
1 Choose where to insert the stop by doing one of the following:
• Select an action’s name to insert a stop at the end of the action.
• Select a command to insert a stop after the command.
2 Choose Insert Stop from the Actions panel menu.
3 Type the message you want to appear.
4 If you want the option to continue the action without stopping, select Allow Continue.