Skip to content
BLBlender

Macroman

by Kruithne·Workflow

Illustrative cover generated by AnyPlugins — no product screenshot available.

Why we like it

MacroMan earns its place in the superhive library as a simple way to keep Python automation inside Blender itself — macros live in the Text Editor, save as plain .py files, and run from a menu, a keybinding or an API call.

What is Macroman?

MacroMan is a Blender add-on from Kruithne for saving, managing and running snippets of Python code, referred to as macros. It's aimed at power-users who lean on the automation the Blender Python API offers, without having to keep snippets in an external program or reload a boilerplate add-on.

Macros are created and edited inside Blender using the default Text Editor panel, so there's no separate script manager to maintain. Each macro defines an ID and a label on its top two lines, then saves with a single button. Macros can be accessed through a keybindable menu, bound individually to their own keybindings, or called through the API from another script, add-on, macro or terminal.

On disk, each macro is stored as a .py file, which leaves it open to external editing, management or backup in any IDE or text editor. Macros have full access to the Blender Python API, giving them broad reach — the same reason to be cautious when running macros written by someone else.

Who is Macroman best for?

Macroman is best for blender power-users who automate tasks with the Python API and want macros managed inside Blender.

How much does Macroman cost?

Macroman is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Create and edit macros inside Blender using the default Text Editor panel, without external script management
  • Access macros through a keybindable menu, or bind individual macros to dedicated keybindings of their own
  • Macros stored on disk as .py files for external editing, management or backup
  • Full access to the Blender Python API within macros
  • Run macros three ways: via the macro menu, a dedicated keybinding, or a bpy.ops call from another script, add-on, macro or terminal
  • Each macro defines an ID and a label on its top two lines

Tags

#Python#automation#scripting#macros#Blender#workflow

Frequently asked questions

How do I create a macro in MacroMan?

MacroMan lets you build macros without leaving Blender. Open the Text Editor panel, click New Text, then write or paste the Python snippet you want to save. The top two lines of the macro designate an ID and a label. Once that's in place, press the Save Macro button in the top-right of the editor and the macro is stored. Because everything happens in Blender's default Text Editor, there's no external script manager to set up first.

How do I run a macro created with MacroMan?

MacroMan gives you three ways to run a saved macro. First, the macro menu: create a keybinding bound to the wm.call_menu action with its name set to SCREEN_MT_macroman_menu, then press it to pick from your macros. Second, bind a macro directly to its own keybinding using the action macro.your_macro_id. Third, call it through the API with the bpy.ops prefix from another script, add-on, macro or terminal, for example bpy.ops.macro.example_macro(). Pick whichever fits how you like to trigger automation.

Can I edit MacroMan macros in an external editor?

MacroMan supports external editing since macros are stored on disk as .py files. Click the Open Macro Folder button on the Text Editor panel to reach the directory. Any file with a .py extension there is treated as a macro, provided it defines an ID and a label the same way you would when creating one inside Blender. After adding or editing files externally, click Reload Macros and the changes are picked up. This also makes the files handy for backup.

How do I delete a macro in MacroMan?

MacroMan stores each macro as its own file, so deleting one is a matter of removing that file. Click the Open Macro Folder button on the Text Editor panel to open the directory. Find the file matching your macro's ID — if the ID is my_example_macro, the file is my_example_macro.py — and delete it. Afterwards, click the Reload Macros button on the Text Editor panel, or reload Blender, and the macro will no longer appear.

Is MacroMan free to use?

MacroMan is listed as free here in our catalog. For current licensing and any terms, check the developer's page before downloading. One thing worth noting regardless of cost: macros have full access to the Blender Python API, just like any add-on or third-party snippet, so use caution when running macros you didn't write yourself. Treat code from any source carefully before executing it.

Alternatives to Macroman

Also in Workflow for Blender.

Similar plugins