Automation using scripts is a powerful and yet often overlooked feature available in all Muk3D software. In this article, discover how macros are the secret weapon to streamline workflows and save you valuable time, regardless of your programming expertise.
Macro Recording in Muk3D is an automation tool that allows you to record a series of actions and automatically generates a file (a Python script) that you can use to play these actions back as a single command. Macros eliminate the need for manual repetition and reduce the risk of errors.
Once you have recorded a macro, you've got the flexibility to customise it to further automate your tasks. By having access to the recorded Python code, you can modify it and add functionalities to suit your specific needs. For example, you can edit the recorded code to include conditional statements, loops, or error handling. Additionally, you can incorporate user prompts or input boxes to make the macro more interactive. Customization allows you to extend the automation capabilities of the recorded macro and tailor it precisely to your requirements, making your Muk3D experience even more efficient and personalized.
You don't need to be a Python guru to effectively use macros and edit them in Muk3D. While having a deep understanding of Python can certainly provide more advanced customization options, Muk3D's macro recorder offers a user-friendly approach to automation. The recorder captures your actions, allowing you to see the recorded steps in a straightforward manner. You can easily make adjustments or edit the recorded Python code without extensive programming knowledge as shown in the tutorial video. We also provide a range of resources, from the API documentation to tutorials that can help you understand and modify the code to suit your specific needs.
With a little practice and experimentation, anyone can harness the power of macros and customize them to enhance their workflows.
Why you should use macros
Explore below how recording macros can transform your Muk3D experience and make automation a lot more more accessible, ultimately saving you time and effort.
Simplified Task Automation: We've said it before, it enables you to automate repetitive tasks effortlessly. By recording a macro, you capture your actions and Muk3D converts them into Python code, making it easy to repeat the same steps later. This eliminates the need for manual repetition and reduces the risk of errors.
Time Savings: Automating tasks with macros can significantly reduce the time required to perform them manually. You shouldn't have to do deposition runs after deposition runs for your tailings planning manually. Instead of performing these actions step by step each time, you can simply record a macro and let Muk3D do the work for you. The time saved can be utilized for more valuable activities.
Increased Accuracy and Consistency: We are very much prone to errors, especially when performing monotonous and repetitive tasks. By automating these tasks with macros, you can ensure consistent and error-free results. Macros execute instructions precisely as recorded, reducing the risk of accidental mistakes. This enhances the overall accuracy of your analysis or/and reporting.
User-Friendly Approach: Recording macros in Python offers a user-friendly approach to automation, even if you have limited programming knowledge. You don't need to be an expert in coding or Python in particular to start automating tasks. Muk3D's macro recorder captures your actions in a visual and intuitive manner, allowing you to see the recorded steps and make adjustments if necessary. This accessibility makes automation available to a broader range of users, empowering you to harness the full potential of your software.
Customization and Flexibility: Although recording macros provides a quick and straightforward automation solution, it also offers customization and flexibility. The recorded Python code can be edited to tailor the macro to specific needs or incorporate additional functionalities. This allows you to extend the automation capabilities beyond what the initial recording captured. With some basic understanding of Python, you can unlock a world of possibilities for streamlining your Muk3D workflows.
How you can use them
You have a series of command you keep repeating and want to record a macro for it.
Follow these steps:
Select the Record macro button, give your script a descriptive name
Run the different actions in Muk3D that you want to record.
Stop the macro recording.
Now drag and drop the Python file that's been created and it will replay the actions you just did.
That's it, you've recorded your first macro. Below is a code example from the first macro recorded in the video at the top of this article. It shows how three commands are called and used.
Example of Recorded Macro
Now that a macro is recorded, you can inspect your code and modify it to repeat your tasks. Check out the video and discover how you can run macros and customize them to automate your processes.
To inspect your code, we recommend that you use a text editor or integrated development environment (IDEs) that has Syntax Highlighting. It's a functionality that colorizes different sections of the code based on their syntax and helps you identify and understand the structure of the code quickly. It really improves the code readability and comprehension by visually distinguishing keywords, variables, strings, comments, and other elements within the script.
There are plenty of software out there that can do that, here are some examples:
for text editors: Sublime Text, Notepad++, VS Codium
Tutorial Material
You can find the project folder with all folder and files used in the video in the zip below.
Find below the final code used in the video and that shows how the original macro was eventually transformed for automation.
Edited Example Code to Automate Dam Staging