Gerry Peters

I see, I tried your method hitting Enter instead of Double Clicking or right click: Modify Command and they all do the same thing. I can see why you don't use the Direct Editor much. I agree the Scripting Editor is much easier in instances like these, whereas in ME 3.0 the Direct Editor did almost the same thing as the Modify Command. It had some minor code in it at the beginning and the end of the text. So this has been a good tutorial for me - thanks.

Wondering if this is a bug, I simply copied the text from the Direct Editor and created a new ME 5 macro and pasted the text in it's Direct Editor. Upon looking at the Scripting Editor I saw the same behavior, but on closer look I see that the Scripting Editor simply does not show the complete list. It stops after a certain number of lines. There are 70 lines in my text macro. I have a feeling this is not a bug but the way it was intended. Maybe I'm wrong. So to me the bottom line is when I want to make adjustments to this macro, I'll go to the Scripting Editor and double click on the text this brings up the Modify Command. I can easily add the text in that window. Is this an acceptable way of working in ME 5? I'm still getting used to the changes from 3.0

I'm using ME 5. I created a text macro in 3.0 and it's hard to modify it in 5.0. The text macro types several paragraphs by hitting a hot-key. In 3.0 I could use the direct editor and the text was displayed pretty much exactly like the paragraphs and it was easy to add a new paragraph. In 5.0 the Direct Editor displays 2 long lines with my text embedded with lots of code, I can't simply just paste my new paragraph without lots of modification. If I go to the Scripting Editor, I see my text not as 1 block like 3.0, but 2 blocks. One marked 1 and below it 2. If I select 2 and right click and choose: Modify Command. I then see an easy box to add my paragraph. I added it and hit Save Macro. The macro does work and my new paragraph shows up in the Direct Editor, but it's not displayed in the Scripting Editor, unless I choose: Modify Command, then I see it in that box. So my first question is should I have added my new paragraph using a different technique? And secondly did I corrupt this macro by doing it this way since the Scripting Editor is not displaying my new paragraph?

Thanks so much for your help on my macro. I was able to get the new Facebook macro to work just fine. As of now it's pretty slow I needed to put delays in there to make it work. Later I can trim it up some, but it's really designed for me to let it run and walk away from the computer for a while. The way I handled it was to use the 1 1 macro folder I created with all the 1kb TXT files and simply rename the files to the music group names. What's nice is I can simply put whatever files I want to put in there and post to what groups I want to. Next song I do I can change it up how I want. All I need to do is to put the correct number of repeats in there and also paste my custom comments for each song I want to do. I simply copied and pasted some of the commands from the macros we were working with into my new macro I used Window activate: to move the focus to "1 1 macro" folder and the Chrome App. At the very end of the macro I use TABs to get to the bottom of the window and choose Post. While getting the kinks out of the macro I simply disabled the last TAB command so it would instead click on Cancel instead of Post. I'm sure there were other ways I could have accomplished inserting the Music Groups names in. I originally thought there would be a TXT file for this, yet using the file names like we used in our practice sessions worked just fine and is actually flexible. So again thanks for all the help and patience.

When I start working on a macro, many times I wish there was a "Save As" feature. Maybe there is and I haven't found it. I'd like to save the macro as 1,2,3 etc in various stages of development in case I need to go back. Right now what I'm doing is going to the main ME window and choosing to copy a macro. Then I have 2 versions the old one and the new one I'm editing. A little awkward, but a workaround

It seems the next step is for me to create a Notepad TXT file that has a list of music groups or any text strings and to paste them 1 at a time into Notepad Untitled. Or do you have something else in mind?

<<So after pasting a macro you should step through and open each command that includes reference to a variable, to check and get that automatic definition.<< does this only apply to ME Pro? I'm usnig the regular 5.0 What about the t before FileName? - %tFilename%

I got the simple macro edited and it works! I'll post it below. I have a question about this statement at the beginning of the macro. It assumes you have defined the variable tFilename I didn't do anything to define it, but how do I do that if needed? // This macro will simply ask you to select any file in any folder and then display its name. // It assumes you have defined the variable tFilename Repeat Start (Repeat 5 times) Text Box Display: Initial Instructions Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <F2> // Switch to Edit mode Delay: 0.2 seconds Clipboard Copy Delay: 0.2 seconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ESC> Delay: 0.1 seconds Variable Set String %tFilename% from the clipboard contents Delay: 0.1 seconds Text Box Display: This should show the filename // Disabled after testing Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ESC> Delay: 0.1 seconds Window Activate: Untitled - Notepad Delay: 0.2 seconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): %tFilename% Delay: 0.1 seconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> Delay: 0.1 seconds Window Activate: 1 1 macro express Delay: 0.2 seconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ARROW DOWN> End Repeat <COMMENT Value="This macro will simply ask you to select any file in any folder and then display its name."/> <COMMENT Value="It assumes you have defined the variable tFilename"/> <REPEAT START Start="1" Step="1" Count="5" Save="FALSE"/> <TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Initial Instructions" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang2057{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\qc\\b\\f0\\fs20 Open any folder and select any file.\r\n\\par \r\n\\par \\ul Then\\ulnone close this message.\\f1 \r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="485" Width="278" Height="163" Monitor="0" OnTop="TRUE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x00" Delay="0"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<F2>" _COMMENT="Switch to Edit mode"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.2"/> <CLIPBOARD COPY/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.2"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ESC>"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x02" Destination="%tFilename%" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/> <TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="This should show the filename" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang2057{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs20 tFilename\\f1 = \\f0 %tFilename%\r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="Center" Width="278" Height="200" Monitor="0" OnTop="TRUE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x00" Delay="0" _COMMENT="Disabled after testing"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ESC>"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/> <WINDOW ACTIVATE Title="Untitled - Notepad" Exact_Match="FALSE" Wildcards="FALSE" _IGNORE="0x0006"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.2"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="%tFilename%"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/> <WINDOW ACTIVATE Title="1 1 macro express" Exact_Match="TRUE" Wildcards="FALSE" _IGNORE="0x0006"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.2"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ARROW DOWN>"/> <END REPEAT/>

I'm glad I'm finally making progress. Just so I can have a better understanding of this, what is this? %tFilename% I assume that the % % are something that encloses a variable, any variable. And that Filename is a command to go to the File name that's in a folder. Is this all correct? Or is there more? And what about the t? what does that signify? Do I need to define what the t is in other macros? Thanks all your great help,

I'm glad I did the Code Tool right this time, so to reiterate. The correct way to do it is I can type my message in the Posting Window. Then if I need to share my macro, I'd first go to the Scripting Editor, select the commands and choose Copy Command Text. Then go back to my post and click on the Code Tool, paste the command text in that and hit insert into post. Then I can go to the Direct Editor and copy and paste that text into the Code Tool and insert it into the post. Is that correct? So I assume the Code Tool is only making subtle changes to the text, mostly leaving long lines for the commands. Is that right?

I went back to your original macro "to get a successful list in Notepad" and ran it again and this time it worked fine. The list in notepad was correct, not like what I posted yesterday. The only change I made to that macro yesterday was to put the name of my folder instead of the UK folder you had in 2 spots in the macro.

<COMMENT Value="This macro will simply ask you to select any file in any folder and then display its name."/> <COMMENT Value="It assumes you have defined the variable tFilename"/> <REPEAT START Start="1" Step="1" Count="5" Save="FALSE"/> <TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Initial Instructions" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang2057{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\qc\\b\\f0\\fs20 Open any folder and select any file.\r\n\\par \r\n\\par \\ul Then\\ulnone close this message.\\f1 \r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="485" Width="278" Height="163" Monitor="0" OnTop="TRUE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x00" Delay="0"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<F2>" _COMMENT="Switch to Edit mode"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.2"/> <CLIPBOARD COPY/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.2"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ESC>"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x02" Destination="%tFilename%" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/> <TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="This should show the filename" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang2057{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs20 tFilename\\f1 = \\f0 %tFilename%\r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="Center" Width="278" Height="200" Monitor="0" OnTop="TRUE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x00" Delay="0" _COMMENT="Disabled after testing"/> <END REPEAT/>

I got your simple macro to repeat 5x. I'm not sure if I put the start repeat where you wanted it. I put if at the very beginning, so each time a window popped up asking me to select a file in a folder and it displayed it. This happened 5x. I did this using the scripting editor under "Repeat" - "repeat start" "end repeat" I'll go to the Direct Editor, select the text and paste it into the Code Tool in the next post

<COMMENT Value="This macro will simply ask you to select any file in any folder and then display its name."/> <COMMENT Value="It assumes you have defined the variable tFilename"/> <TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Initial Instructions" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang2057{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\qc\\b\\f0\\fs20 Open any folder and select any file.\r\n\\par \r\n\\par \\ul Then\\ulnone close this message.\\f1 \r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="485" Width="278" Height="163" Monitor="0" OnTop="TRUE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x00" Delay="0"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<F2>" _COMMENT="Switch to Edit mode"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.2"/> <CLIPBOARD COPY/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.2"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ESC>"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x02" Destination="%tFilename%" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/> <TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="This should show the filename" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang2057{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs20 tFilename\\f1 = \\f0 %tFilename%\r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="Center" Width="278" Height="200" Monitor="0" OnTop="TRUE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x00" Delay="0" _COMMENT="Disabled after testing"/>

// This macro will simply ask you to select any file in any folder and then display its name. // It assumes you have defined the variable tFilename Text Box Display: Initial Instructions Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <F2> // Switch to Edit mode Delay: 0.2 seconds Clipboard Copy Delay: 0.2 seconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ESC> Delay: 0.1 seconds Variable Set String %tFilename% from the clipboard contents Delay: 0.1 seconds Text Box Display: This should show the filename // Disabled after testing

I downloaded your macro and it works fine with no edits. I'll modify it like you suggested and let you know how it goes. For years I've used the Scripting Editor and sometimes the Direct Editor, which is easier to use for pasting text macros. Following this post will be a post of the Command Text using the Code Tool and a post of the Direct Editor using the Code Tool. Just to see if I'm doing this right I'll use your currently unchanged macro. Choose the Scripting Editor, click on the right, hit Control-A, and select all the commands, right click and choose Copy Command text. I'll now go to the forum "Posting Message box, click in the box, I now see the Icons including Code Tool. Click on the Code Tool and in it's box use Control-P to paste the command text in the box. At the bottom right I see HTML. I see no changes in the Text, then I hit "Insert into Post". I still see no change in the text. Next I hit "Submit reply". Next I open the Direct Editor, hit Control-P, then open a new Post Reply window, choose the Code Tool, hit Control-P, click on insert into post. I hit "Submit reply". I did all of this assuming this is what you were asking when you said this: Please post a message confirming you now understand and also inserting in two code boxes: 1. Your command text (i.e. my working macro after your edits). 2. The code of that. If any of this was wrong, point out what I did wrong please. When I use the Code Tool I see no changes that it made. It seems I could have just bypassed the Code Tool and simply pasted the Command text from the Scripting Editor and the Direct Editor code into the post a Message box. Thanks for your enormous patience with this. I'll get to work on modifying your macro.

here's the folder I created fro this macro

Window Activate: 1 1 macro express Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <HOME> Delay: 0.1 seconds // Now, before attempting to insert a Repeat command, simply perform the basic task of this macro on a SINGLE element. In this demo it's the first entry, already selected at the top. Repeat Start (Repeat 10 times) Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <F2> // Switch to Edit mode Delay: 0.2 seconds Clipboard Copy Delay: 0.2 seconds Variable Set String %tFilename% from the clipboard contents Delay: 0.1 seconds Text Box Display: TEMP // Disabled after testing Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ESC> Delay: 0.1 seconds Window Activate: Untitled - Notepad Delay: 0.2 seconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): %tFilename% Delay: 0.1 seconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> Delay: 0.1 seconds Window Activate: 1 1 macro express Delay: 0.2 seconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ARROW DOWN> End Repeat

I'm trying to use your macro. I created a folder named"1 1 macro express". So I changed your line to read Window Activate: 1 macro express. This folder is open in Windows File Explore and A new empty text file is open in Notepad, 'Untitled - Notepad' I tried changing this: Variable Set String %tFilename% ME didn't like what I put in there, so I left it the name you have: %tFilename% When I hit save macro, This window popped up. The variable tFilename is not currently defined. Would you like to create it now? Yes - OK I saved the macro and ran it and got these results in Notepad %tFilename% %tFilename% %tFilename% %tFilename% %tFilename% %tFilename% %tFilename% %tFilename% %tFilename% %tFilename% Here's a pic of my folder

I pasted my command text above using @Samrae method. I finally found the Code Tool in the "Message Posting box". But I can't see what it does that's different from @Samrae method. It seems like it's for posting. Is there another Code Tool? Terry, since I found this in the message posting box do you still want a screen shot?

Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): s Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ARROW DOWN> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <CTRL>v Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <SHIFT><TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <SHIFT><TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <SHIFT><TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <SHIFT><TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): s Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <HOME> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ARROW DOWN> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ARROW DOWN> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): lyri Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <DOWN ARROW> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <SHIFT><TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <SHIFT><TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <SHIFT><TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <SHIFT><TAB> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER>

I've searched pretty thoroughly for the code Tool. I didn't see any forum software. Maybe they moved it. Any assistance will be appreciated

What a whole new universe you've opened up for me - thanks. I'm not able to find the code tool. I see that pic you have with it there, but can't seem to get that myself. I've tried quite a few different things and don't see that come up. I have the regular ME window that opens showing all the macros, then if I double click a macro it opens a 2nd window. Is it because these macros were created in 3.0? I'm using version 5.

This is definitely not a mass marketing project, but I can understand your concern. I try to make these posts as concise as possible, but maybe it would be good to explain more. I have a music recording studio, Midi Magic Studio and for Christian Music - Alleluia Christian Music Productions. http://gprecordingstudio.com Facebook has these Music Groups. People that post are Independent Artists, songwriters, musicians, and recording studios. I post songs I've recorded in my studio to let people out there see and hear what I do, in case they feel like they'd like me to help them by recording their songs, or recording a CD project or having me cowrite a song to their lyrics. I first post a song on my Facebook Gerry Peters account, then I post on my 2 pages Midi Magic Studio and Alleluia Christian Music Productions. I then share the post to different Facebook Music Groups. As you can see in the upper post with the pics, I'm posting a song that has a single picture on it, so it's considered a video. Sometimes I actually create a full blown video for songs recorded in my studio to show people what I can do in case they'd like to use me for their project. If people like what they see and would like me to work with them, then they send me a message and we discuss if I'm a good fit for their project. I didn't find anything called the "Code Tool", is that the same thing as the Direct Editor? Here's my macro viewed from the Direct Editor. <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="s"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ARROW DOWN>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<CTRL>v"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SHIFT><TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SHIFT><TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SHIFT><TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SHIFT><TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="s"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<HOME>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ARROW DOWN>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ARROW DOWN>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="\r\n"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="lyri"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<DOWN ARROW>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SHIFT><TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SHIFT><TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SHIFT><TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SHIFT><TAB>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>"/> This is my macro for posting in the Lyric and Songwriters United Music Group. Notice near the end the line: <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="lyri"/> I didn't have to type the whole name of the group only a few letters: lyri. That's enough to bring up the name of that group. And that's the precise spot I'd like to have my group list kick in. I'm envisioning a simple Notepad text file with the 20 music groups all listed with their full names. I can easily alter a list like that for instance if I had a Rock song I may not want to post it in a Country group. I think you have an excellent idea of my using my training wheels with Windows File Explorer. I hope I understood your suggestion. This is what I've done. I've created 3 notepad files named: TEST 1.TXT TEST 2.TXT TEST 3.TXT I put them in this folder E:\My Documents\1 1 macro express I've created a file that lists the 3 files and named it TEST 1-3.TXT and put it in the same folder. I'm not sure what you mean by active folder.. Is that a folder that I can share with this forum using my public file account with onedrive.live.com? I assume what you're getting at is having a macro use the file list to open those 3 files one at a time and then stop. Let me know if I did what you asked and thanks so much for helping me learn new techniques with ME

I've checked with others on Facebook and they do not have the New Facebook either and can't get access to it. The New Facebook has been around since April, so who knows how long it'll be before I can get it, if ever. I've gotten no response from Facebook or their forum about this. This is why I was using this opportunity as a learning experience to start getting deeper in ME. I would like to learn how to use String Variables and Arrays and Repeat Loops (which I've never used either). I've used the recorder, scripting editor and direct editor, but I have a feeling you and acantor are using a different method, which is more involved and that's ok I'm willing to learn and would like to use this month of my free trial to see whether 5.0 is something worthwhile for me. Solving this little problem with Facebook would convince me. I've used my Facebook macro for years successfully, but since Facebook keeps making small changes with the Share box, I have to make small changes in the macro in order to get it to work again. This is a simple macro consisting of TAB, ENTER, ARROW DOWN PASTE, etc. All simply to navigate the Share Window shown above in the pic. The timing delays I put in there because I had trouble finding the right speed for it to work in certain spots. There's nothing wrong with my macro except for me being at this impasse of wanting to put different names in 1 box each successive time the macro runs until I've gone through all 20 names. In the past I've solved this problem by having to make those changes to all 20 macros instead of this new method of only changing 1 macro. I'm ready to move forward and learn new methods. If there's a tutorial that would help, let me know. Thanks for taking time to help me with this.