DYNAMIC ACTION RECORDER

• US 20090222726A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Kintzley, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/704
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45512 Command shells

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture obtain user input during a playback of a macro. A series of user actions are recorded in the form of a macro. A representation of the user actions is displayed. The representation provides nodes that each represent the user actions. One of the nodes is selected and configured by the user to request additional user input relating to a parameter of the selected node during playback of the macro. The macro is played back and automatically pauses at the selected node. User input is obtained and the macro automatically continues execution utilizing the user input for the parameter of the selected node. Additionally, one or the user actions includes a selection of objects. As part of the recorded macro, references to the selected objects are stored in a non-graphical manner. During playback, objects are selected based on the stored references.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for providing input during a playback of a macro, comprising:

recording a macro comprised of a series of user actions;

displaying, on a display device, a representation of the user actions comprised of one or more nodes that each represent one or more of the user actions in the series;

selecting one of the nodes;

configuring the selected node to request user input relating to a parameter of the selected node during playback of the macro;

playing back the macro;

pausing the macro at the selected node;

obtaining user input in accordance with the configuring; and

continue playing back the macro utilizing the user input for the parameter of the selected node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the series of user actions comprise creating geometry in a drawing program.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user input comprises an identification of a location in a drawing.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the user input comprises a size of the geometry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the series of user actions comprises creating multiple geometries in the drawing program; and

a relative positioning between the geometries created in the drawing is maintained during playback of the macro.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

a vector offset between two of the geometries is generated and stored during the recording; and

the vector offset is used to maintain the relative positioning during playback of the macro.

7. A computer implemented method for reliably playing back objects selected in a macro comprising:

recording a macro comprised of a series of user actions, wherein one or more of the user actions comprises a selection of one or more objects displayed on a display device;

as part of the recorded macro, storing references to the one or more selected objects in a non-graphical manner; and

playing back the macro, wherein objects are selected during playback based on the stored references.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the series of user actions are performed in a drawing program and the one or more objects comprise geometry in the drawing program.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the storing the references comprises:

determining whether the one or more selected objects are newer than a most recently created object; and

if the one or more selected objects are newer than the most recently created object, generating and storing one or more offsets as the references, wherein the offsets are from the most recently created object to each of the one or more selected objects.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the determining is based on object identifiers that are created sequentially for each object; and

each offset comprises a difference between an object identifier for the most recently created object and a selected object.

11. An apparatus for providing input during a playback of a macro in a computer system comprising:

(a) a computer having a memory;

(b) an application executing on the computer, wherein the application is configured to;

(i) record a macro comprised of a series of user actions;

(III) display, on a display device, a representation of the user actions comprised of one or more nodes that each represent one or more of the user actions in the series;

(iii) select one of the nodes;

(iv) configure the selected node to request user input relating to a parameter of the selected node during playback of the macro;

(v) play back the macro;

(vi) pause the macro at the selected node;

(vii) obtain user input in accordance with the configuring; and

(viii) continue playback of the macro utilizing the user input for the parameter of the selected node.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the series of user actions comprise creating geometry in a drawing program.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user input comprises an identification of a location in a drawing.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user input comprises a size of the geometry.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the series of user actions comprises creating multiple geometries in the drawing program; and

a relative positioning between the geometries created in the drawing is maintained during playback of the macro.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

a vector offset between two of the geometries is generated and stored during the recording; and

the vector offset is used to maintain the relative positioning during playback of the macro.

17. An apparatus for reliably playing back objects selected in a macro in a computer system comprising:

(a) a computer having a memory;

(b) an application executing on the computer, wherein the application is configured to;

(i) record a macro comprised of a series of user actions, wherein one or more of the user actions comprises a selection of one or more objects displayed on a display device;

(III) as part of the recorded macro, store references to the one or more selected objects in a non-graphical manner; and

(iii) playback the macro, wherein objects are selected during playback based on the stored references.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the series of user actions are performed in a drawing program and the one or more objects comprise geometry in the drawing program.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the application is configured to store the references by:

determining whether the one or more selected objects are newer than a most recently created object; and

if the one or more selected objects are newer than the most recently created object, generating and storing one or more offsets as the references, wherein the offsets are from the most recently created object to each of the one or more selected objects.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the determining is based on object identifiers that are created sequentially for each object; and

each offset comprises a difference between an object identifier for the most recently created object and a selected object.