Why Won't This Layout Box Macro Work?

[William]

The training video on creating user defined macros appears to clearly define the steps to create a user macro...and the macro below seems simple enough, so...Why won't it work?   

 

 

With a Layout Box selected I created this macro by Inserting Object Specific macros:

 

Macro Name: MyLayoutLabel  

Macro Value: %automatic_label%%layer_set%%box_scale%

[GerryT]

you may want to review the video's again as you're not even in the same ballpark. The designation %xxxxx% is the name of a macro,not a data variable. These macro can only be used within a Chief text box or label

 

What you are attempting to do is use a macro within a macro, which you can not do.

 

Within a single macro, you use the Ruby data variables designated for that particular object. In your case would be:automatic_label, box_scale, & layer_set. Note the under line. Using a ruby type macro as you are attempting, you must  use the ruby language also. In you case, the proper syntax would be:

 

"#{automatic_label}\n#{box_scale}\n#{layer_set}"  with evaluate checked and owner object selected.

 

IOW --  To get your macro to work as you are using it uncheck "evaluate" to use only Chief's predefined macros.

[glennw]

Open the Layout Box Specification and use the Insert button to get this:

 

 

[William]

Thanks WIlliam, that explanation helps a lot.  I had no idea that checking the Evaluate box changed the way the program viewed the code.