Delay Action
Pause execution between actions to give apps time to respond.
What It Does
The Delay action adds a timed pause in your macro. This gives applications time to:
- Launch fully before receiving commands
- Open dialogs or windows
- Process previous actions
- Respond to keyboard shortcuts
When to Use It
Add delays when:
- Opening apps before sending them commands
- Waiting for dialogs to appear
- Giving slow operations time to complete
- Ensuring UI elements are ready
Configuration
Duration — Set the delay length in seconds (e.g., 0.5, 1, 2, 5)
Example
Wait for App Launch
1. Open App → Photoshop
2. Delay → 3 seconds
3. Simulate Keyboard Shortcut → Open (⌘O)
Tips
Start longer — Begin with longer delays (2-3 seconds) and reduce if the macro works reliably.
Consider app speed — Heavy apps like Photoshop or video editing programs need longer delays than lightweight ones like TextEdit.
Network operations — Add extra delay for actions that require internet connectivity.
Common Delay Durations
- 0.1-0.3 seconds — Brief pause between keyboard shortcuts
- 0.5-1 second — Wait for dialogs or menus
- 2-3 seconds — Wait for app launch
- 5+ seconds — Wait for heavy apps or slow operations