terrypin

Thanks Joe, duly done. After further testing I think this happens when a shortcut has been assigned previously, but to a macro that is now disabled. And even if the shortcut for that disabled earlier macro is then changed to some third string, unused anywhere, that too then generates the error. IOW, the bug sort of spreads. I also experienced some other very odd behaviour when I was playing around with this. It may or may not be related. While trying to change the troublesome shortcut I used the backspace key to delete the two existing characters. An unprintable 'empty square' symbol appeared. And more of them with subsequent keystrokes. Had to terminate ME Pro. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

We discussed this in the thread http://pgmacros.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=3518 and I sent a bug report. It was assigned the tracking number [iSS6421] I haven't yet checked this specifically with a pop-up menu, which was what prompted my original query. But I can confirm that in the latest 4.0.1.1 release I am still getting invalid messages when I save any 'normal' macro that has a shortkey activation. I add a shortkey activation that is unused by any other enabled macro and then click Save and Close, but get "The ShortKey activation may conflict with one or more macros. You may have multiple macros launched when using this activation." -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Thanks Cory. Bookmarked that for future reference. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

I came to use this command for first time but found that the applet I wanted to display ('Administrative Tools') was not included. I have 38 entries in my Control Panel but this command displays only 32 icons. How is this populated please? To enter the applet name manually I need its filename. Help says these have a .CPM extension but all I've found so far are .CPL files in \System32. (31 not 32 of them!) -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Good news - thanks! Particularly pleased to see you've fixed the F9 problem I was banging on about. '8. Reduced the number of times a window is queried for its title when using the "Test Run" functionality.' -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Jeff, FWIW it seems OK here. On my PC the files Filename.mex, Filename.000, Filename.001 etc are all in the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Insight Software Solutions\Macro Express Pro I just made an arbitrary edit to a macro and terminated ME Pro. A new Filename.mex and Filename.001 appeared in the folder. Identical behaviour to ME 3. --------- Duh - as I hit the send key I realised I'd hastily mis-read your post, sorry! I rarely log-off (and can't do so right now) but assume I'd find the same as you. Did ME 3 backup on log-off? This post will vanish as soon as I re-discover the Delete option... -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

#3: Yes. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

I reckon I can do it via the registry. Although as ME Pro's Registry commands don't seem to work in this case, I had to work externally, so it's pretty tortuous, and also relies on a utility most won't have. 1. Open the registry using regedit in the Run box 2. Use Alt, a to get to Favourites, in which this key is already saved 3. Tab to 'Settings' and use Enter to open the 'Edit Binary Value' window 4. Use my OCR-based utility Kleptomania to capture the 9th pair 5. Paste value to clipboard 6. Test; 02 = ON, 03 = OFF Checking pixels of the Start logo sounds good to me. Although I'm always nervous about long term session-to-session reliance on such precise pixel positioning in areas like this: -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Is Joe therefore mistaken when he says in his table on page 267 of 'Macro Express Explained' that the REG-BINARY value type is supported by ME and uses a Decimal variable? If I've understood you correctly, you're implying that some values can and some can't? If so, is there any way of defining which please? -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Just like I mis-typed your name! Copy/Paste is our friend! -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Yet it was the first question in Kevin's request for data, in post #4 of this thread: "1. How many macros in your macro file?" That doesn't make any sense to me! I get the same delay whether I have 1 or 20 windows open Eh? That also flies in the face of common sense! The conditions don't change significantly between my first use of F9 and the next. And the next, and next... Yet only on the first is it immediate. And that behaviour applies to every macro, in every ME Pro session, on every date I've been doing this! Are you seriously suggesting that this is an insignificant factor? That it doesn't indicate some error in the coding, affecting all uses of Run except the first? I'd like to, but you're simply not addressing the facts. I'm looking forward to whatever improvements you can make. And, once again, you still haven't addressed the central question of why ME 3 doesn't have this problem. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Glad to hear you got it working. Are you sure about that command syntax? According to Joe Weinpert's 'Macro Express Explained', page 106, spaces are not allowed between /A and the name. You had "c:\program files\Macro Express3\MeProc.exe" /A Do-List Activator but I think it should be "c:\program files\Macro Express3\MeProc.exe" /ADo-List Activator -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

David, You should be able to do it using ME's Registry commands. I'm pretty sure the relevant key is here: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects2 The actual value with it OFF is 28 00 00 00 ff ff ff ff 02 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 6b 00 00 00 1e 00 00 00 fe ff ff ff 94 04 00 00 82 07 00 00 b2 04 00 00 And when it's ON that changes to 28 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF 03 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 3F 00 00 00 1E 00 00 00 FE FF FF FF FE FF FF FF 02 04 00 00 1C 00 00 00 So the only thing that changes is the 9th pair, from 02 to 03, From some googling here is the full set of options for that binary value: SINGLE OPTIONS: 08 = No Settings Enabled 09 = Auto Hide 00 = Show Clock 0A = Always on Top 0C = Show small icons in Start Menu MULTIPLE OPTIONS: 01 = Auto Hide and Show Clock 02 = Always on Top and Show Clock 03 = Always on Top and Auto Hide and Show Clock 04 = Show small icons in Start Menu and Show Clock 0E = Always on Top and Show small icons in Start Menu 0F = Always on Top and Auto Hide and Show small icons in Start Menu 06 = Always on Top and Show small icons in Start Menu and Show Clock 07 = All Options Enabled 0B = Always on Top and Auto Hide 0D = Auto Hide and Show small icons in Start Menu After reference to Joe Weinpert's 'Macro Express Explained', which informed me that this type of entry was Decimal and was supported by ME, I then tried to write what I assumed would be a simple macro to read that setting. But so far I've failed. // Toggle Autohide ON/OFF using XP Registry Read Registry Value "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects2\" into %D[1]% Text Box Display: Macro Return <COMMENT Value="Toggle Autohide ON/OFF using XP Registry"/> <READ REGISTRY VALUE Key="HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\StuckRects2\\" Destination="%D[1]%"/> <TEXT BOX DISPLAY Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang2057{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 D1 = %D[1]%\\f1 \r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="Center" Width="278" Height="200" Monitor="0" OnTop="FALSE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x00" Delay="0"/> <MACRO RETURN/> That just returns 0.0 I then tried the equivalent with ME 3: <REGRDEC:1:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects2><TBOX4:T:1:CenterCenter000278000200:000:D1 = %D1%> That gave me the obscure message (not mentioned in Help) : "You can only read a string from the default value. The macro will be aborted." So I'm now awaiting some expert help please! -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Alexander, To have any chance of isolating the problem, I suggest we need to consider the ME and StrokeIt aspects separately! I based my test on your description and the result works fine here - when activated by d-clicking from the desktop. - when activated from the Run box - when activated from a command line in a 'DOS' window (in XP Pro here). My macro is: // Activate Word document Do-List Activator - Alexis post Program Launch: "Do-List Activator.doc" Macro Return <REM2:Activate Word document Do-List Activator - Alexis post><LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Docs\SUNDRY\Macro Express\Do-List Activator.doc><MRETURN> And my shortcut target is "C:\Program Files\Macro Express3\MeProc.exe" /MXEC:\Docs\MXE files\Mine\ActivateWord-Alexis.mxe Which differs significantly from yours. I used Export > Export as Playable Macro, and then prefixed that filename (including full path) with "C:\Program Files\Macro Express3\MeProc.exe" /MXE This aspect is plainly OT for this forum, even though the competitive product is freeware, so if necessary we can discuss it by email (terrypin at dial dot pipex dot com). But first please confirm you still have the problem after considering my comments above. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Ah, didn't see this until just after I edited my original. As you see, I reached same conclusion. It was partly the format that threw me, 12 instead of 00 (which I believe is the 'standard' for that hour after midnight?), plus Kevin's 'late today' on a post marked 'Today'. But of course, yes, it is a time-zone quirk. Now, let's see, what time do I have to go downstairs and switch on the TV for the inauguration...? -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

OK, thanks Jason. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Thanks. BTW, is there something wrong with your date setting? Your post is reported here as being sent at Today, 12:32 AM, and the quote is consistent with that, showing QUOTE (kevin @ Jan 20 2009, 12:32 AM) yet it was around 07:00 when I first read it - and it's only 10:06 GMT now, on Tuesday 20th Jan. --------- Edit: I suppose this is because this forum formats times between midnight and 01:00 as 12:xx, instead of the 00:xx I'd expect? That's why I always use 24 hour format whenever given the option! -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Thanks Kevin. But I'm not satisfied with the F9 explanation. It just doesn't square with the facts. To repeat some points that have already been made by me and mfseeker but which you have not yet addressed: 1) The F9 delay does not occur the first time it is used. So that point alone proves beyond question what common sense says is obvious anyway: that a high end quad core PC doesn't need 2 million microseconds to scan a list of 400 macros! 2) ME 3 doesn't exhibit the F9 delay at all; with virtually the same number of macros, its response is immediate So there's plainly something wrong with the coding IMO, that wan't present in ME 3, and I'm surprised your developers haven't found it by now. Or haven't even looked properly? I was disappointed at the poor response to your request up-thread for more feedback from other users. So far only you, mfseeker and I seem to be aware of the issue. I'm probably less tolerant than most but the long pause is a real frustration to me when I'm testing. Your work-around is OK in a few situations, but nowhere near as convenient as hitting F9 from the Script Editor. Hey, if I do this say 100 times a day that's over 3 minutes lost! If I could take the hit in one go that would be fine, I'd grab another coffee or run another program, but what can you do in 2 seconds except wait..wait..wait? --------- On the apparently unrelated issue of the Enable/Autodial processes, they don't occur in ME 3 either. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

In ME 3 you could change a floating menu to a pop-up or vice versa, under Macro Properties > General. Is that no longer possible in ME Pro? -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

It's not clear to me what you want to do. Although your subject asks how to 'run a macro for a specific time', which is obviously trivially easy with a single delay command, you clearly want to do more than that. But what exactly? What does 'run the script' mean? What script? I'm guessing that maybe you want to type or mouse-click continuously, or perhaps repeatedly at frequent intervals? If so, here's a simple example: // This will run for about 20 seconds. The 'script' will display the (approximate) number of seconds that have elapsed since the macro was started. Repeat Until %N[1]% Equals "20" Text Box Display: Counting seconds Delay: 1 seconds // This is where you would place the commands you want to run REPEATEDLY until the time limit is reached. Such as the Text Display command in this example. Variable Modify Integer: %N[1]% = %N[1]% + 1 End Repeat Macro Return <COMMENT Value="This will run for about 20 seconds. The 'script' will display the (approximate) number of seconds that have elapsed since the macro was started."/> <REPEAT UNTIL Variable="%N[1]%" Condition="\x00" Value="20"/> <TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Counting seconds" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang2057{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 The macro has been running for approximately %N[1]% seconds\\f1 \r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="Center" Width="278" Height="200" Monitor="0" OnTop="FALSE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x02" Delay="1"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="1"/> <COMMENT Value="This is where you would place the commands you want to run REPEATEDLY until the time limit is reached. Such as the Text Display command in this example."/> <VARIABLE MODIFY INTEGER Option="\x00" Destination="%N[1]%" Value1="%N[1]%" Value2="1"/> <END REPEAT/> <MACRO RETURN/> -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

I have a menu macro for which I've specified 'Place an icon in the System Tray'. So it displays when I click that icon. But does this mean that the menu list can only be directly above the tray icon, and ignores the specifications I've made under Menu Positioning? Or should those options be greyed out for system tray activation? -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Of course - thanks Kevin! I now recall realising that obvious mistake ages ago. Embarrassing to find that I must have quickly forgotten it again In mitigation, I reckon it's not as intuitively designed as perhaps it could be. maybe you could: - Change 'Stay on screen for' to 'Maximum time' - Add emphasis by changing 'Timed floating box or end of macro' to 'Timed floating box OR end of macro' -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Thanks Kevin. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

A very minor point but might be of interest in case it ever happens to anyone else. The OK button in Text Display windows wouldn't respond to pressing Enter. Had to mouse click the button itself. Same behaviour consistently with various macros I tried. Not solved using Tools > Restore Keyboard & Mouse hooks. But after restarting ME Pro the problem disappeared. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Cory, I've been unsuccessful in reproducing that behaviour, so reckon it must have been due to some carelessness of mine. -- Terry, East Grinstead, UK