Illustrator

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.

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.