====== Macro Actions ======

===== Definition =====

**An **//Action//** in Keyboard Maestro is a specific process step (usually of limited scope) to be taken in a Keyboard Maestro [[manual:Macros|Macro]].**  If a process consists of a series of steps, then an **//Action//** would be one step.  A Macro may contain one or more **//Actions//**.

===== Actions Listed by Category =====

==== Looping Actions ====
Actions that _loop_ through a set of other Actions until some criteria is met.

* [[action:For_Each|For Each]]
* [[action:Repeat|Repeat]]
* [[action:Until|Until]]
* [[action:While|While]]

==== User Interface (UI) Actions ====

App UI Elements

* Insert Text by Typing
* Manipulate a Window
* Move a Window
* Move and Resize a Window
* Move or Click Mouse
* Press a Button
* Select or Show a Menu Item
* Type a Keystroke

Web Browser UI Elements\\
(Offered for "Front Browser", "Safari", and "Chrome")

* Click Front Browser Link
* Find Image on Screen
* Focus Front Browser Field
* Previous Front Browser Tab
* Select Front Browser Field
* Select Front Browser Tab
* Set Front Browser Checkbox
* Set Front Browser Field to Text
* Set Front Browser Radio Button

System UI Elements

* Set Keyboard Layout




===== Actions Listed Alphabetically =====


~~NOCACHE~~
<nspages action -textPages="">

===== How To Use =====

Keyboard Maestro has a very large number of actions, some very specific, others more general.  The most general **//Actions//** are those which [[Scripting|Execute a Script]], which, of course, can be as specific or general as you like.

See the [List of Actions](#List_of_Available_Actions) below, or the [Keyboard Maestro Documentation](/manual/Macro_Actions) for more information on actions and how to use them.

===== How To Add an Action to a Macro =====

**There are a number of ways to add an **//Action//** to a Macro.**\\
Some of these are:
  * Choose Action from the Action List (Actions ➤ Show Actions menu)
    * Drag and Drop from Action List to Macro
    * Double-click on Action in Action List
  * Insert Action using the Keyboard Maestro Edit ➤ Insert Action menu
  * Insert Action by Name 
    * Show using the Editor shortcut key <key>⌘</key><key>⌃</key>**A** 
    * Or from the menu Edit ➤ Insert Action by Name
  * Paste in actions copied from elsewhere
  * Import an exported list of actions (perhaps downloaded from the forum).

**Here is a demo showing the first two methods:**

{{:km-7.1-add-action-to-macro.an.gif?nolink|}}

===== Testing for Success or Failure of an Action =====

**You can use the [[token:ActionResult|ActionResult token]] to test for success or failure of the immediate past action.**
  * **If Successful**, Then "**//OK//**" is returned.
  * Otherwise, a message describing the reason for failure is returned.

See the [[token:ActionResult|ActionResult token]] for details.

===== Export/Import Actions =====

You may also export/import Actions to/from files.  This may be useful when you have a complex Action that you have configured in a special way, that you wish to share with others, or save as a reference for yourself.

 - The Export Actions command in the File menu exports the selected actions to a file that you can import later or on another Mac. You can also post the action export file on the forum or elsewhere to share it with others.
 - The Import Actions command in the File menu lets you select a saved action file and **imports the actions it contains into the current macro**.
 - Note that unlike import of Macros, import of Actions inserts the Actions in the currently selected Macro.  It does NOT put these Actions into the Action List.

===== Plugin Actions =====

Keyboard Maestro also supports user-defined Actions, which are called **//Plug In Actions//**.\\
For details on creating, installing, and using, see 
  * [Keyboard Maestro Documentation for Plug In Actions](/manual/Plug_In_Actions).
  * [Plug In Actions: How to Create, Post, Install ](https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/plug-in-actions-how-to-create-post-install/80) in the Keyboard Maestro Forum.

===== See Also =====

Keywords: Plugin, Plugins, Plug-In, User Actions

==== Forum ====

- [[https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/feature-request-find-all-uses-of-an-action/3626/2|[Feature Request?] Find all uses of an action]]