Play an action on a batch of files, Batch options – Adobe Illustrator CS4 User Manual
Page 449
442
USING ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS4
Automating tasks
Important: The Replace Actions command replaces all sets of actions in the current document. Before using the
command, make sure that you have already saved a copy of your current set of actions using the Save Actions
command.
Play an action on a batch of files
The Batch command lets you play an action on a folder of files and subfolders. You can also use the Batch command
to populate a template for data-driven graphics with different sets of data.
1
Choose Batch from the Actions panel menu.
2
For Play, select the action you want to play.
3
For Source, choose the folder on which to play the action, or select Data Sets to play the action on each data set in
the current file.
If you select a folder, you can set additional options for playing the action.
4
For Destination, specify what you want to do with the processed files. You can leave the files open without saving
the changes (None), save and close the file in their current location (Save And Close), or save the files to a different
location (Folder).
Depending on the Destination option you select, you can set additional options for saving the files.
5
Specify how you want Illustrator to handle errors during the batch process. If you select Log Errors To File, click
Save As, and name the error file.
6
Click
OK.
Saving files using the Batch command options always saves the files in the same format as the original files. To
create a batch process that saves files in a new format, record the Save As or Save A Copy command, followed by
the Close command, as part of your original action. Then choose None for the Destination when setting up the batch
process.
To batch-process using multiple actions, create a new action, and record the Batch command for each action you
want to use. This technique also lets you process multiple folders in a single batch. To batch-process multiple
folders, create aliases within a folder to the other folders you want to process.
See also
Batch options
If you select Folder for Source, you can set the following options:
Override Action “Open” Commands
Opens the files from the specified folder and ignores any Open commands
recorded as part of the original action.
Include All Subdirectories
Processes all files and folders within the specified folder.
If the action contains any save or export commands, you can set the following options:
Override Action “Save” Commands
Saves the processed files in the specified destination folder and not to a location
recorded in the action. Click Choose to specify the destination folder.
Override Action “Export” Commands
Exports the processed files to the specified destination folder and not to a
location recorded in the action. Click Choose to specify the destination folder.