Macro drawing tools

Drawing tools offer you a new way of accessing macros. These can be used, for example, to create text styles, add custom grids, or even start a new map from scratch. They can work with the other draw tool settings, or be completely independent.

To create a new macro tool

1. Click Tools > Macros >> Macro Tools

2. Click Advanced.

3. Click New.

4. Type in a name starting with the word Macro.

5. Check the Macro Command tick box.

6. Click Command to Execute

7. Type in your macro command.

8. If you want to illustrate the macro, create a drawing with the same name as the macro tool in the System folder of CC3. This can be a CC3 drawing, or a bitmap.

A sample macro with Apply Macro After Drawing set

1. Set the draw method to Path/Polygon option Straight, closed

2. Turn Outline Off, set the Properties to a solid-filled, zero width green on the VEGETATION layer.

3. Click Use Macro Command and Apply Macro After Drawing.

4. Set the Command to Execute to be:

SELSAVE

SELBYP

FORESTLOAD #system\fillers\decid.fil

FOREST

MOVESHT symbols

SELREST

This macro saves the current selection method, and sets the selection method to be Prior. FOREST adds a forest to the prior selection (a green, solid filled polygon), moves them to the SYMBOLS sheet then restores the current selection method.

Macro command tips

• You can create the macro just as you usually do%hlp_z_macros in the fcw32.mac text file, then call it by name from the Command to Execute box. If you need your macro to branch, this is the only way to do it.

• Alternatively, you can type the macro commands directly into the box, just as if you were writing a script.

• If you create a macro tool which adds symbols, you might want to set the symbol scale proportional to the map size. You can do this with SYMBOLOPT

• If you create a macro tool which adds text you might want to set the symbol scale proportional to the map size. Edit the macro tool Macro Text Heading 1 to see how this is done.