Creating actions


    When you create an action, Illustrator records the commands (including any specified values), palettes, and tools you use, in the order you use them.

    The following guidelines can help you in designing actions:

    • Most, but not all, commands can be recorded. However, you can allow for commands that cannot be recorded. (See Inserting nonrecordable commands.)
    • Nonrecordable commands include those that change your view of the screen (including most commands in the View menu), commands that display or hide palettes, and commands in the Effect menu. Also, the Glyphs palette and tools such as the Gradient and Mesh tools, Eyedropper, Paint Bucket, and scissors are not recordable.
    • When recording an action, keep in mind that playback results depend on such variables as the current fill and stroke colors, and on file and program settings.

    Tip iconBecause Illustrator executes the commands as you record them, it's a good idea to record a complicated action using a copy of a file, and then play the action on the original.

    • Until you specifically save a set of actions with the Save Actions command, actions are automatically saved in the preferences file. For information on preferences, see Using the Preferences dialog box.

To create a new action:

  1. Open a file.
  2. In the Actions palette, click the Create New Action button Create New Action button , or choose New Action from the palette menu.
  3. Tip iconPressing Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and clicking the Create New Action button simultaneously creates an action and begins recording.

  4. Enter a name for the action.
  5. If the Actions palette contains multiple sets of actions, choose the set to which you want to add the action. (See Organizing sets of actions.)
  6. If desired, set one or both of the following options:
    • Assign a keyboard shortcut to the action. You can choose any combination of a function key, the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac OS), and the Shift key (for example, Ctrl+Shift+F3).

    Note: If you assign an action the same shortcut that is used for a command, the shortcut will apply the action rather than the command.

    • Assign a color for display in Button mode.
  7. Click Record Begin Recording button. The Begin Recording button in the Actions palette turns red.
  8. Tip iconTo guard against mistakes, record the File > Save A Copy command at the beginning of the action before other commands are applied.

  9. Choose commands as you want them recorded.
  10. If the command you choose opens a dialog box, clicking OK records the command; clicking Cancel does not record it. If a chosen command is not recorded, it must be inserted in the action. (See Inserting nonrecordable commands.)

    Note: You cannot record setting 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.

  11. To stop recording, click the Stop Playing/ Recording button Stop Playing/Recording button .
  12. If you want to keep the action for use in future work sessions, save the action. (See Organizing sets of actions.)