Playing Back Macros

After you record a macro, you can play it back. Playing back a macro automatically runs all of the interface actions you recorded using a single action.

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How to Play Back a Macro

  1. Open the content file.

  2. If necessary, select the text or location in the topic where you want to apply the macro (e.g., if the macro applies a condition tag to text, select the text to which you want to apply the tag).

  3. Select the Tools ribbon. In the Macros section, click Playback. A submenu opens that lists all available macros.

  4. From the submenu, select the macro you want to run. The macro is applied at the location you chose or to the text you selected.

Other Ways to Play Back a Macro

You can also play back macros in the following ways:

  • Assign a custom shortcut to the macro. You can do this in two ways:

    • Options Dialog Recorded macros automatically show up in the customizable keyboard shortcut list. From the Command drop-down, select Keyboard Shortcuts. Then select the macro to which you want to assign a shortcut. They appear in the list as "Playback: [macro name]." See Changing Hot Keys.

    • Manage Macros Dialog Select the macro to which you want to assign a shortcut, then click Assign Shortcut. After you click OK in the dialog, use your keyboard to press the shortcut you want to assign to the macro. See Managing Macros.

  • Add the Playback drop-down to the Quick Access Toolbar. To do this, right-click the Playback drop-down. From the context menu, select Add to Quick Access Toolbar. See Quick Access Toolbar.

  • Search for and run a macro from the Quick Launch bar. Type the a few letters of the macro's name in the Quick Launch bar and select it from the search results. See Quick Launch Bar.

  • Play back the last editor action. When you are working in the XML Editor, you can use the F8 shortcut to repeat your last action. This feature uses the same controller that is used when you create macros in Flare. Therefore, only actions that are supported by the macro controller are supported for the repeat shortcut.

    Example You are working in a topic where you need to apply a span style class to several words to change the text to blue. You highlight the first word and apply that style class using the Styles window pane. But instead of following those same steps to format all the other words, you use the repeat shortcut. You highlight the next word that needs to be blue and press F8. The blue span style class is applied to that word. You highlight the next word and press F8 again. Once more, the blue span style class is applied. You continue doing this until all the appropriate words have that style class applied.

    Next, you realize that you need to turn several paragraphs in the topic into drop-downs. So you select the first group of relevant paragraphs and select Insert > Drop-Town Text to create a drop-down effect. You highlight the next group of relevant paragraphs, but instead of using the option in the Insert ribbon again, you press F8. The drop-down effect is applied to those paragraphs. You continue to use the F8 shortcut until all the necessary content in the topic is turned into drop-downs.

    Tip If you prefer to use a shortcut other than F8 for this feature, you can open the Options dialog (File > Options), select the Keyboard Shortcuts tab, choose XML Editor in the top field, and assign the Repeat action to a different key. See Changing Hot Keys.

    Note Although you can only repeat an action if that action is supported by the macro controller, you do not need to have assigned a macro to your action in order to repeat it. This lets you repeat occasional actions without having to spend time recording a macro.