stevecasper

Heys guys thanks for the help. I guess i am not following exactley what the variables do and how to set them up. If it helps our spool outputs these files to a network drive.

A variable, when dealing with Macro Express, is a virtual "hook" that holds whatever information you assign to it. When executing various commands within a macro, the command will utilize the information contained in the variable.

For example:

• Variable Set String %T1% "My name is "
  

This simple command hangs "My name is " on the "hook" titled %T1% (ie. Inserts "My name is " into Text Variable 1)

• Variable Set String %T2% from Prompt
  

This command prompts the user for his/her name, after which it assigns the person's response to %T2%

• Variable Modify String: Append %T2% to %T1%
  

This third command adds the information from %T2% to the end of %T1%.

Now, because %T1% contains the original information "My name is " as well as the name of the user, we could use the

Text Type command to type out the variable %T1%.

For this example, we want to make sure there a notepad is open to receive the text as it gets typed out, so we use a

command to open notepad.

• Activate or Launch: "untitled - notepad" OR "notepad.exe"
  
• Wait For Window Title: "untitled - notepad"
  

Finally, the text type command gets utilized.

• Text Type: %T1%
  

When you're done, the macro will look like this (in the Scripting Editor):

Variable Set String %T1% "My name is "
Variable Set String %T2% from Prompt
Variable Modify String: Append %T2% to %T1%
Activate or Launch: "untitled - notepad" OR "notepad.exe"
Wait For Window Title: "untitled - notepad"
Text Type: %T1%

If you want to copy this macro directly into your Macro Express Editor, use this code:

<TVAR2:01:01:My name is ><TVAR2:02:02:FWhat is your name?FFCenter:Center><TMVAR2:08:01:02:000:000:><LAUNCHYES3:0:0112untitled - notepad<LAUNCH:notepad.exe><WAITWIN2:000010:000000:untitled - notepad><TEXTTYPE:%T1%>

I highly recommend taking a little time to familiarize yourself with the tutorial as well as the sample macros that come

with Macro Express. Analyze them, pick them apart, figure them out. The best way to learn how to write a macro in Macro

Express is to experiment with the program. Look at other people's macros, and make changes to them to see how those

changes affect the way the macro behaves. Once you have a solid understanding of the basics, the world of possibilities that

Macro Express offers will begin to open itself up to you.

On the forums, you'll rarely find a shortage of people willing and happy to help, but none of us can give the time and focus

you can get from a thorough reading of the tutorials, practicing with sample macros, and playing around with the basics.

In ME3 I activate macros with shortkeys like p-l, p8-1, s-mm, etc. But in ME Pro when I try to enter the minus sign when assigning a shortkey it is ignored. No character is entered.

 

Yet those old ME3 macros do work in ME Pro, i.e. I can activate them with ##s-mm etc.

 

---------

 

A little later I discovered that I can fix this by removing the minus sign from the list of 'punctuation characters'. But Help says these only apply to Suffix shortkeys, not Prefixes which I'm using. And I do not have 'Use Punctuation Chars' checked anyway. So something seems wrong.

 

 

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Hi Terry,

I had a similar experience with the same solution.

Under Help I found this:

Punctuation Characters

 

The Suffix activation method allows the use of punctuation characters to trigger the macro. The Preferences image above displays the default list of punctuation characters that can be used to activate a shortkey macro. Punctuation characters may be added or removed from this list

Which is indeed confusing. Maybe the fact that those characters aren't being allowed in the shortkey is a bug?

BTW, I'm curious whether other ME users actually bother customising icons?

 

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Hey Terry,

I've tried in the past, especially when building floating menus for people who aren't particularly computer-savvy, and I've found it a bit

cumbersome. I finally gave up when building them for myself. As far as building macros for others, I was always disappointed in the

icons that came with ME, and didn't even think to go exploring for icons in other programs. You've actually opened that door up to me,

which might make icon customization more rewarding.

All,

 

I would like to send daily a PDF attachment that our inhouse ordering system generates. The only issue is that the file is generated from our systems spool output and the file name changes. The only thing in the name that remains static is the username. so here would be an example file name "username-job_name.time.jobnumber.pdf here would be an actual example royb_b-palm.20081228.145505.1335.pdf. The same user will run this file everyday so if there is a way to use that as an identifier that would work great please help. I need to get this project done as soon as possible.

 

Thanks,

Assuming I understand your system correctly, and what it is you are trying to do, I believe I have a solution for you. Since the username

never changes, you can establish that as part of your basic macro code, requiring no prompts. Assuming the date that the job was run is

today's date, you simply create a Date/Time command in the same format that your file will use in the file name, from your

description that format is yyyymmdd. (If the date the job was run is not "today" but is consistently "yesterday" you can establish the Date/

Time command to remove 1 day from today, or if it is not consistent, you can even have the Date/Time command prompt the user for the

correct date.)

Now you append all this information in the order that it is placed in the file name.

Now you simply need to have your macro Program Launch and use the file path to the location where this file will be (the Program Launch

command doesn't let you brows to a folder, you will need to either enter the path to the folder, or browse to a file within the folder, then

remove the file name - leaving just the folder path).

Your macro will then open the folder so it's now just a matter of doing a search for the particular file you're after. Once it has been found,

the macro can use commands for File -> Send -> Mail Recipient, or whatever process you need.

Clearly the example macro I am posting below will need some expansion to suit your specific needs, but it should help you get the ball

rolling.

Date/Time: Save "yyyymmdd" into %T1%
Variable Set String %T2% "royb"
Variable Set String %T3% "b-palm"
Multiple Choice Menu: Job
Variable Modify String: Append "_%T3%.%T1%" to %T2%
Program Launch: ""
Text Type: <CONTROL>f
Delay 0.5 Seconds
Text Type: %T2%<ENTER>
Delay 0.5 Seconds
Text Type: <CONTROL>f
Text Type: <ARROW DOWN>
Text Type: <ALT>f
Text Type: n

<DT:yyyymmddT:01:1:><TVAR2:02:01:royb><TVAR2:03:01:b-palm><MENU2:1:T:03:CenterCenter:JobWhich Job?b-palm
job2
job3><TMVAR2:07:02:00:000:000:_%T3%.%T1%><LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\IDInfo\><TEXTTYPE:<CONTROL>f><DELAY:.5><TEXTTYPE:%T2%<ENTER>><DELAY:.5><TEXTTYPE:<CONTROL>f><TEXTTYPE:<ARROW DOWN>><TEXTTYPE:<ALT>f><TEXTTYPE:n>

<sigh>

I'm about to give up on this one. I think I found the problem. I don't know why it worked originally, but it seems my variable

%Start% got re-assigned as a Text variable rather than a Date/Time variable, which caused the Restore command to

stop recognizing the originally established value (from macro 1).

I manually assigned %Start% to the Date/Time category within macro 2 and now the macro is working consistently.

However, I have now duplicated Terry's situation:

Variable Modify Date/Time: %Diff% = %Later% - %Start%

This line should subtract the Starting time-stamp from the Later time-stamp and give the difference. The resulting time-

stamp (%Diff%) displays: 12/30/1899 12:07:37 (the hh:mm:ss changes each time I run Macro 2, so something is working)

Converting the D/T to Dec before calculating the difference and then converting back gives the same results.

With a little work, I've come up with an inelegant work-around. It's not perfect, but it should be adequate, better with more

work.

It seems to me the Modify Date/Time command needs some work, though... pretty disappointing if this is how it's supposed to work.

Here's my work-around (macro 2):

Variable Restore: Restore All Variables
Date/Time: Set %Later% to the current date/time
Variable Modify Date/Time: Extract hour into %N[1]%
Variable Modify Date/Time: Extract minute into %N[2]%
Variable Modify Date/Time: Extract second into %N[3]%
Variable Modify Date/Time: Extract hour into %N[4]%
Variable Modify Date/Time: Extract minute into %N[5]%
Variable Modify Date/Time: Extract second into %N[6]%
Variable Modify Integer: %N[7]% = %N[1]% - %N[4]%
Variable Modify Integer: %N[8]% = %N[2]% - %N[5]%
Variable Modify Integer: %N[9]% = %N[3]% - %N[6]%
Text Box Display: Time Difference

<VARIABLE RESTORE Option="\x00"/>
<DATE/TIME Flags="\xB0" Date="12/28/2008 2:16:07 PM" Day_Offset="0" Month_Offset="0" Year_Offset="0" Hour_Offset="0" Minute_Offset="0" Second_Offset="0" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Variable="%Later%" IsDateVar="TRUE"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY DATE/TIME DateVar="%Later%" Option="\x05" LeftVar="%N[1]%" UseInteger="FALSE" MathOpt="\x00"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY DATE/TIME DateVar="%Later%" Option="\x06" LeftVar="%N[2]%" UseInteger="FALSE" MathOpt="\x00"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY DATE/TIME DateVar="%Later%" Option="\x07" LeftVar="%N[3]%" UseInteger="FALSE" MathOpt="\x00"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY DATE/TIME DateVar="%Start%" Option="\x05" LeftVar="%N[4]%" UseInteger="FALSE" MathOpt="\x00"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY DATE/TIME DateVar="%Start%" Option="\x06" LeftVar="%N[5]%" UseInteger="FALSE" MathOpt="\x00"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY DATE/TIME DateVar="%Start%" Option="\x07" LeftVar="%N[6]%" UseInteger="FALSE" MathOpt="\x00"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY INTEGER Option="\x01" Destination="%N[7]%" Value1="%N[1]%" Value2="%N[4]%"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY INTEGER Option="\x01" Destination="%N[8]%" Value1="%N[2]%" Value2="%N[5]%"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY INTEGER Option="\x01" Destination="%N[9]%" Value1="%N[3]%" Value2="%N[6]%"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Time Difference" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 %Start%\r\n\\par %Later%\r\n\\par %N[7]%:%N[8]%:%N[9]%\r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="Center" Width="278" Height="200" Monitor="0" OnTop="FALSE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x00" Delay="0"/>

I haven't figured out yet if this will work while macro 1 is still running... I don't plan on posting about it when I do modify Macro 1 again... but who knows.

Ok, I think I'm going to submit a bug report soon, because my results are VERY inconsistent.

Latest test:

Macro 1:

Date/Time: Set %Start% to the current date/time
Variable Save: Save All Variables

<DATE/TIME Flags="\xB0" Date="12/28/2008 2:15:13 PM" Day_Offset="0" Month_Offset="0" Year_Offset="0" Hour_Offset="0" Minute_Offset="0" Second_Offset="0" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Variable="%Start%" IsDateVar="TRUE"/>
<VARIABLE SAVE Option="\x00"/>

Macro 2 was initially (and it worked just fine):

Variable Restore: Restore All Variables
Text Box Display: Today?

<VARIABLE RESTORE Option="\x00"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Today?" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 %Start%\\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"/>

I then added (and it still worked fine):

Date/Time: Set %Later% to the current date/time
Text Box Display: Today?

<DATE/TIME Flags="\xB0" Date="12/28/2008 2:16:07 PM" Day_Offset="0" Month_Offset="0" Year_Offset="0" Hour_Offset="0" Minute_Offset="0" Second_Offset="0" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Variable="%Later%" IsDateVar="TRUE"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Today?" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 %Start%\r\n\\par %Later%\\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"/>

And finally I tried the following, at which point the Restore ceased to function at all:

Variable Modify Date/Time: %Diff% = %Later% - %Start% 
Text Box Display: Today?

<VARIABLE MODIFY DATE/TIME DateVar="%Diff%" Option="\x01" LeftVar="%Later%" RightVal="%Start%" UseInteger="TRUE" MathOpt="\x00"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Today?" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 %Start%\r\n\\par %Later%\r\n\\par %Diff%\\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"/>

Even when I remove the commands that are apparently breaking the macro, it continues to malfunction. My result in the "Today?" Text box (variable %start%) becomes 0.0

Ok, I've gone completely basic.

Saved Variables are not being restored.

Here are the two most basic macros for example:

Macro 1:

Variable Set String %TStart% to "Today"
Variable Set Integer %NStart% to 2008
Variable Set Decimal %DStart% to 0.535
Date/Time: Set %DTStart% to the current date/time
Text Box Display: 
Variable Save: Save All Variables

<VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%TStart%" Value="Today"/>
<VARIABLE SET INTEGER Option="\x00" Destination="%NStart%" Value="2008"/>
<VARIABLE SET DECIMAL Option="\x00" Destination="%DStart%" Value="0.535"/>
<DATE/TIME Flags="\xB0" Date="12/28/2008 2:00:06 PM" Day_Offset="0" Month_Offset="0" Year_Offset="0" Hour_Offset="0" Minute_Offset="0" Second_Offset="0" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Variable="%DTStart%" IsDateVar="TRUE"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 Text = %TStart%\r\n\\par Intg. = %NStart%\r\n\\par Dec  = %DStart%\r\n\\par D/T  = %DTStart%\\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"/>
<VARIABLE SAVE Option="\x00"/>

Macro 2:

Variable Restore: Restore All Variables
Text Box Display:

<VARIABLE RESTORE Option="\x00"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 Text = %TStart%\r\n\\par Intg. = %NStart%\r\n\\par Dec  = %DStart%\r\n\\par D/T  = %DTStart%\\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"/>

-Edit

Well, something is amiss. After I posted this, I ran the macros again and this time the Restore command worked.

Further tests and changes to the initial macro also worked. I don't know what the problem is exactly, but I have some

doubts about whether or not th Restore command is fully operational 100% of the time.

Here's the resultant message in How long?

 

Macro 1 started at Start = 28/12/2008 19:29:12 (= 0)

Macro 2 started at Later = 28/12/2008 19:30:42 (= 0.0)

 

So TimeRun = 30/12/1899 00:01:30

 

No idea where ME gets that date from!

 

Can't do more on this right now; please let me know of any conclusions.

 

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Ok, I'm still playing with this, and still not having any luck. I get similar results when I copy your code into my Editor,

but when I just build it from scratch following your commands, my results are not even close.

Something I noticed about your code is that your ME Pro is assigning 30/12/1899 as today's date (this is actually captured

inside your Direct Editor script), which may mean there is a communication error between ME Pro and your computer. This

is not duplicated in my ME Pro which is capturing today's date. That might be part of the problem, and certainly explains

why that year is popping up in your Text Box Display.

Hello all,

I just started playing around with running two macros at the same time and I've run into a wall. Maybe what I'm trying to

do is not possible right now, but if it is, I'd love to know how to do it.

These are just a couple of test macros, so they don't currently have any practical value for me, but here's what I'm trying to

accomplish:

• Run macro with extended delay (25 minutes).
  
• Run second macro while first is still processing. Second macro will calculate how long the delay has been running.
  

Unfortunately, the second macro isn't accessing the variable data from the first macro, despite having Save All Variables in

the first macro and Restore All Variables in the second one.

Here is the actual code, so if somebody wants to let me know what I've done wrong, or what I could do better, that would be

great! (Also, I think I could probably eliminate the conversion of D/T variables to Dec variables and back, if I could get the

2nd macro to access the variable info from the first one... the conversions were actually a product of me trying to figure out

what I was doing wrong.)

Macro 1:

<DATE/TIME Flags="\xB0" Date="12/28/2008 9:45:11 AM" Day_Offset="0" Month_Offset="0" Year_Offset="0" Hour_Offset="0" Minute_Offset="0" Second_Offset="0" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Variable="%DTyt%" IsDateVar="TRUE"/>
<CONVERT DATE/TIME TO DECIMAL Source="%DTyt%" Dest="%decyt%"/>
<VARIABLE SAVE Option="\x00"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Delay Start" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\lang1033\\f0\\fs16 The delay started at:\r\n\\par %\\f1 DTyt\\f0 %\r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="820" Top="295" Width="278" Height="200" Monitor="0" OnTop="FALSE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x02" Delay="0"/>
<DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="1500"/>
<TEXT BOX CLOSE Header="Delay Start"/>

Macro 2

<VARIABLE RESTORE Option="\x00"/>
<DATE/TIME Flags="\xB0" Date="12/28/2008 9:46:35 AM" Day_Offset="0" Month_Offset="0" Year_Offset="0" Hour_Offset="0" Minute_Offset="0" Second_Offset="0" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Variable="%DTytc%" IsDateVar="TRUE"/>
<CONVERT DATE/TIME TO DECIMAL Source="%DTytc%" Dest="%Decytc%"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY DECIMAL Option="\x01" Destination="%D[1]%" Value1="%Decytc%" Value2="%decyt%"/>
<CONVERT DECIMAL TO DATE/TIME Source="%D[1]%" Dest="%TimeRun%"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="How long?" Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 %TimeRun%\r\n\\par %Decyt%\r\n\\par %DTytc%\\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"/>

Thanks!

Just a question - any chance to create a timer while a delay is running?

Mean i create a delay of 25 minutes or so and sometimes i want to know how long the delay is running in that moment.

so is there a chance to set up a counter so i can see how long it takes to the end of the delay?

 

i hope someone understand what i mean :-)

You could do something like this:

Date/Time: Save "h:mm:ss AMPM" into %T1%
Text Box Display: Delay Start
Delay 1500 Seconds
Text Box Close: Delay Start

<DT:h:mm:ss AMPMT:01:1:><TBOX4:T:3:CenterCenter000278000200:000:Delay StartThe delay started at:
%T1%><DELAY:1500><TBCLOSE:Delay Start>

This code sets the current time to %T1% and then opens a text box which tells you what time the delay starts. The text box

remains open until the delay ends.

So as long as you know what time it is, you can easily figure out how long the delay has been running based on what time it

started.

Macro Express Pro allows multiple macros to run at the same time, though I haven't yet played with that functionality, you

could probably have a separate macro that you could run while the delay is still active that would tell you exactly how long

the delay had been running.

--- Edit

Ok I've been playing with the two macros at the same time feature, and I'm having some difficulty understanding what is

wrong. I'll post this on the Pro board as well, with code.

I start one macro with the delay, then I run the second macro during the delay, and I can't seem to get the second macro to

recognize the saved variables from the first macro. If I figure it out, or if somebody else does, I'll make sure a post gets

made here, too.

Once the html page from the web loads into the browser, its a simple matter to Ctrl A then do a clipboard save, but I need the entire html not just the text.

Is there an easy way to save the html to hard drive?

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

The following will put the entire HTML code for a webpage* into variable T1:

If Window Title "Internet Explorer" is on top
 Variable Set String %T2% "IE"
End If
If Window Title "Google Chrome" is on top
 Variable Set String %T2% "GC"
End If
If Variable %T2% <> "GC"
 If Variable %T2% <> "IE"
Text Type: <ALT>v
Delay 0.25 Seconds
Text Type: o
Wait For Window Title: "Source"
 Else
Text Type: <ALT>vc
Wait For Window Title: "Notepad"
 End If
Else
 Text Type: <CONTROL>u
 Delay 0.25 Seconds
 Wait For Window Title: "Google Chrome"
End If
Text Type: <CONTROL>a
Clipboard Copy
Variable Set String %T1% from Clipboard

<IFOTH:03:2:Internet Explorer><TVAR2:02:01:IE><ENDIF><IFOTH:03:2:Google Chrome><TVAR2:02:01:GC><ENDIF><IFVAR2:1:02:2:GC><IFVAR2:1:02:2:IE><TEXTTYPE:<ALT>v><DELAY:.25><TEXTTYPE:o><WAITWIN2:000010:000000:Source><ELSE><TEXTTYPE:<ALT>vc><WAITWIN2:000010:000000:Notepad><ENDIF><ELSE><TEXTTYPE:<CONTROL>u><DELAY:.25><WAITWIN2:000010:000000:Google Chrome><ENDIF><TEXTTYPE:<CONTROL>a><CLIPC><TVAR2:01:03:>

If you don't need it in a variable, and just want to save it as a .txt file on your hard drive, you would adjust the code like this:

If Window Title "Internet Explorer" is on top
 Variable Set String %T2% "IE"
End If
If Window Title "Google Chrome" is on top
 Variable Set String %T2% "GC"
End If
If Variable %T2% <> "GC"
 If Variable %T2% <> "IE"
Text Type: <ALT>v
Delay 0.25 Seconds
Text Type: o
Wait For Window Title: "Source"
 Else
Text Type: <ALT>vc
Wait For Window Title: "Notepad"
 End If
Else
 Text Type: <CONTROL>u
 Delay 0.25 Seconds
 Wait For Window Title: "Google Chrome"
End If
Text Type: <CONTROL>a
Clipboard Copy
Clipboard Save Text: "HTML Save Test"

<IFOTH:03:2:Internet Explorer><TVAR2:02:01:IE><ENDIF><IFOTH:03:2:Google Chrome><TVAR2:02:01:GC><ENDIF><IFVAR2:1:02:2:GC><IFVAR2:1:02:2:IE><TEXTTYPE:<ALT>v><DELAY:.25><TEXTTYPE:o><WAITWIN2:000010:000000:Source><ELSE><TEXTTYPE:<ALT>vc><WAITWIN2:000010:000000:Notepad><ENDIF><ELSE><TEXTTYPE:<CONTROL>u><DELAY:.25><WAITWIN2:000010:000000:Google Chrome><ENDIF><TEXTTYPE:<CONTROL>a><CLIPC><CLIPST2:0:C:\Users\Steven\Documents\Macros\Macro Test Files\HTML Save Test>

*Note that this code was tested and works on IE 7.x, Firefox 3.0.5, Opera 9.61, and Google Chrome 1.0.154.36

Depending on your computer's speed, delays may need to be adjusted/added.

Because I tested this for 4 different browsers, the code is kind of long. If you know you will only be using one specific

browser, you could shorten this code dramatically.

I would like to isolate parts of Text in string variables.

 

For example the word "MEX" in the following string:

"I love my >MEX< very much!"

 

So is there a command like copy 3 characters right from > or left from <?

rberq hit it right on the nose. Here's my version of the macro. I have opened a Notepad and entered the text: "I love my

>MEX< very much!" and use the following commands to isolate the text in between the > and the <.

Activate Window: "Untitled - Notepad"
Text Type: <CONTROL>a
Clipboard Copy
Variable Set String %T1% from Clipboard
Variable Set Integer %N1% from Position of Text in Variable %T1%
Variable Set Integer %N2% from Position of Text in Variable %T1%
Variable Modify Integer: Inc (%N1%)
Variable Modify Integer: %N3% = %N2% - %N1%
Variable Modify String: Copy Part of %T1% to %T1%
Text Box Display: T1

<ACTIVATE2:Untitled - Notepad><TEXTTYPE:<CONTROL>a><CLIPC><TVAR2:01:03:><IVAR2:01:13:1:>><IVAR2:02:13:1:<><NMVAR:08:01:0:0000001:0:0000000><NMVAR:02:03:1:0000002:1:0000001><TMVAR2:10:01:01:N01:N03:><TBOX4:T:1:CenterCenter000278000200:000:T1 = %T1%>

I need this for a kind of commandline activation where parts of the complete string should be saved as different string variables (T1-T4). The variables are later analysed in the macro and it reacts upon it.

Could you give a slightly more "real world" example of what you're trying to do? It's possible to have the macro collect the

various information and assign it to different variables, but there are different ways to do it, some better than others,

depending on exactly what the situation is.

In ME 3.x when positioning a text box display or prompt manually, you could just click the "OK" button on the decoy prompt once it was in position.

In Pro you have to click on the Save button of the "Dialog Positioner" window.

This may be related to bug [iSS6278], as the OK button is grayed out of the Prompt decoy. However, the Text Box display OK button is present, not grayed out, and also does not work to save the position.

Not sure if this is an intentional feature or not. It's not life-or-death important, and if related to the previously mentioned bug, then it will be fixed along with that one, probably, but thought it worth mentioning.

The import dialog box is coming up underneath other windows on some systems. We are working on a fix. In the meantime you may want to try pressing Alt+Tab or minimizing other windows to go to the dialog. If that doesn't work pressing the ESC key should dismiss the hidden dialog and allow you to continue using Macro Express Pro.

 

The tracking number for this issue is [iSS6281]. This number is useful when checking with Insight Software Solutions Support about the status of this issue.

Though ESC does work for making ME Pro active again, Alt+Tab doesn't cycle to any dialog on the two systems I've installed ME Pro. Is

this a separate bug from the one listed above? Or is it just a variation of it? I will be happy to submit a new bug report if it is a different

bug altogether.

The problem is the import dialog appears underneath the Macro Explorer window. Minimizing the other windows or pressing Alt+Tab will show the import dialog. This issue has been entered into our tracking system and assigned the tracking number [iSS6281]/.

 

Bugs can be reported via our Report a Bug web page.

Feature requests can be entered via our Request a Feature web page.

I've finally had a chance to check this, but there is no dialog hiding behind any windows. I used Win+M to minimize all (since I couldn't

minimize the Explorer window any other way), and found no dialog left up. I have also Alt+Tab cycled through every window running.

Since I've had this problem on two separate computers, while other people are not having the same trouble, I wonder if there is something

I am doing wrong (which is why I'm still posting in the forum rather than submitting a bug report... yet).

Steps I've taken to Import:

• In ME 3d I do File -> Export -> Export Macros... -> Select All -> Save File as C://Desktop etc.
  
• In ME Pro I do File -> Import -> Import Macros... -> C://Desktop etc.
  
• At this point ME Pro freezes. I can't click anywhere or change anything within ME Pro. I can right-click the taskbar icon and Terminate,
  however.
  

I've tried terminating ME 3 before importing on the off-chance it was interfering in some way. No luck. As stated before, Alt+Tabbing

through my windows reveals no hidden dialog box.

Is it a limitation of the 30 day trial version? Does anybody have any helpful tips that I could use to make this work the way I understand it is

supposed to?

If it matters:

One computer specs are: Vista Ultimate 32, sp1, 4G RAM, Quad Core 2.6 GHz

The other computer specs: XP Professional, sp2, 512M RAM, Intel Celeron 2GHz

The first computer only had maybe 20 macros I was trying to import, the second has over 250. Both freeze, so I don't imagine it's due to

the size of the import file.

Any advice would be spectacular. Thanks!

I don't have Pro at work, but I can make this work in ME 3. If this code works in ME 3, it should also work in Pro.

Ultimately, it may not do exactly what you want for the rest of your macro, but it definitely extracts the ddd I'm looking for.

Basically, since every week is made up of two week-end days, you tell the macro how many week-days into the future you want to count,

then the macro calculates the number of week-end days (simple math) and adds that number to the week-days you want. Then it tells you

what day of the week that day will be.

Here you go:

Variable Set Decimal %D1% from Prompt
Variable Modify Decimal: %D2% = %D1% / 5
Variable Modify Decimal: %D3% = %D2% * 2
Variable Modify Decimal: %D4% = %D3% + %D1%
Variable Modify Decimal: Convert %D4% to text string %T3%
Variable Modify String: Convert %T3% to integer %N1%
Date/Time: Save "ddd" into %T2%
Text Box Display: T2

<DVAR2:01:02:FFFCenter:Center><DMVAR:04:02:1:000000000000001.0000:2:5><DMVAR:03:03:1:000000000000002.0000:2:2><DMVAR:01:04:1:000000000000003.0000:1:000000000000001.0000><DMVAR:05:04:1:000000000000003.0000:1:000000000000010.0000><TMVAR2:05:03:01:000:000:><DT:dddT:02:3:{F0%N1%}{P00000}{P00000}{P00000}><TBOX4:T:1:CenterCenter000278000200:000:T2%T2%>

My tests originally included 35 days, 34 days, and 36 days with the (accurate) results: Tue, Mon, and Wed respectively. I just got the thought

to check 33 days, which came out Sun, so this macro is still flawed. But at the very least it was fun to try. I don't have time to mess with it

more right now, so hopefully somebody else will be able to give you a more informed answer.

ver. 3, had help button, at various points;

example, I'm at mulitple choice window; used to be a HELP button, context helpl.

 

In ver. 4, I can't find context help, for when I'm at a specific topic

 

thansk

Nick

I don't have ME Pro at work, so I can't look for a Help button for you. However, I do know that F1 still

works just as it did in ME 3.x to bring up the specific help file (I know for certain because I used it...

possibly because I didn't see the help button, either).

2) I just tested your question number 2 and I didn't note any problems. That is, both ran simultaneously and the shortcut keys I setup in Macro Express launched my Macro Express macros and the shortcut keys I setup in Macro Express Pro launched my Macro Express Pro macros.

 

Now that the results appear that both can run simultaneously, I will probably keep both apps running rather than importing old macros into Macro Express Pro.

 

Alex

Just keep in mind that if you have the same activation set in both applications, then both macros will run. Example, I have a shortkey to

open a new Notepad that I duplicated in Pro. Without thinking, I had both MEs running and ran that macro. Ended up with two Notepads.

Not a problem in and of itself, so I just closed one and went on about my business. As I was doing some text editing, I ran another macro

which ran, again, in both MEs which resulted in some textual problems. At this point I disabled ME 3.

Something I did notice, however, that was strange. My notepad launch macro places the notepad in the bottom-right corner and resizes it

to 550 x 550. Both macros are supposed to to this, but ME Pro's 550 x 550 wasn't the same as ME 3's. I meant to do more tests to verify

this problem before asking if anybody else could duplicate my results, but I was busy and forgot... and now I'm at work without access to

Pro.

Anybody?

I have a macro and want to set it up with a repeat command. The amount of times I process the macro will change each and every time I run it. I want to run it and have it abort any time the Esc key is hit. What is the best way to handle this? Thanks in advance for your help.

Unfortunately, there is no way to tell your macro to stop the repeat by using a key-press. You can abort the macro with the

Abort Macro hot-keys (you can see what they are under Preferences > Playback, I believe). Sometimes ESC does work to

abort a macro, but only when there is a dialog or prompt on the screen. And that would cancel the whole macro, not just

the repeat.

That's not to say what you want to do isn't possible. I have dozens of macros that have repeats that need to keep repeating

until specific conditions are met. One option you have is to set a prompt each time the repeat is supposed to start. That

way you can tell it how many times to repeat each time you run the macro. Like this:

Repeat Prompt Start (Prompt for repeat count at macro play time)
 Text Box Display: Bulk of Macro Here
Repeat End

If you don't know before-hand how many times it's going to need to go, you may need to figure out a different way for the

macro to "see" that it's time to end the repeat. Have the macro "look" for something in the process... probably the same

thing you yourself would look for to know it is time to end the repeat. This could be anything from specific text, Window

title, color of a particular area of the window, etc. In which case the repeat section of the macro would look more like this:

Repeat Until %T1% <> %T1%
 If Message: "Requirements Met"
Break
 Else
Text Box Display: Bulk of Macro Here
 End If
Repeat End

<REP3:08:000002:000001:0001:1:01:T1><IFMESS3:00000:1:1:Requirements MetIf requirements met, end repeat, otherwise keep going.Center:Center><BREAK><ELSE><TBOX4:T:1:CenterCenter000278000200:000:Bulk of Macro Here><ENDIF><ENDREP>

Hey there design-team and fellow Pro users,

I've been looking forward to a particular feature, but am not sure if it has been built into ME Pro at this point (or even if it's in the

works): Multiple Variable Promts.

Example: I would love to be able to build a macro where a single prompt pops up with six fields each of which asks for one of the

following: Name, Street No., Street Name, City, State, and ZIP; where each piece of information would be assigned to a different variable

(such as T1 - T6), rather than having to build 6 different prompts into the macro.

I saw a way to do this through a pretty cool non-ME script, but I'm not programming savvy at all outside of Macro Express, and never felt

comfortable enough to attempt to build such scripts.

I had been really hoping that the next version of ME would have the option, but I can't find it, and don't know that it is part of this build.

If it is part of Pro, can somebody enlighten me on how to do it? Otherwise, I'll just saunter over to the Features Request form and add my

voice to the others who I'm sure would love to see this option in future ME builds.

This issue has been added to our bug tracking database and assigned the tracking number [iSS6278].

 

Bugs can be reported via our Report a Bug web page.

Feature requests can be entered via our Request a Feature web page.

Thanks Kevin and Joe! So far I am loving ME Pro. You guys at Insight are awesome!

Steve,

Thanks for the follow up and testing. I was in fact clicking on the text prior to running the macro. Thus it would not work. I did change it based on the above and it looks like we are good to go. Need to test out later in my full macro but looks promising. Thanks again.

Awesome! I do see the advantage of a triple-click command in Macro Express. Maybe a submission to the suggestions email would

be advantageous.

That is too bad. Can you please provide the code to check the Stop button color? That sounds like a very nice work around. Also, I have tried the 3 left clicks but it is not fast enough to do what I intend. I even tried a repeat command to see if that would speed up a single click 3 times to no avail.

I have checked my triple-click macros on my painfully worthless work computer and posted in response on the other board. Here I'll

quote it:

Just ran these macros on my work computer with fantastic results. I also tried just a basic "Left click" macro that used the command

three times (without using the Repeat command).

 

I am firmly convinced that Macro Express, though it doesn't have a triple-click command, is able to simulate a triple click using the

methods outlined in my earlier posts. If your machine is not duplicating these results, I have my doubts about whether or not it would

be successful at running a triple-click command, if even if ME had one.

 

You may have more success if you open your Control Panel -> Mouse and then slow the double-click mouse speed (this doesn't slow

down how fast the double-click happens, rather it increases the maximum time between clicks to successfully execute a double-click).

I'm running a pretty fast computer at home, so I will try it again

on my considerably less exciting work computer tomorrow to see if I can duplicate the problem (I don't have access to a

Firefox browser at work, however).

Just ran these macros on my work computer with fantastic results. I also tried just a basic "Left click" macro that used the command

three times (without using the Repeat command).

I am firmly convinced that Macro Express, though it doesn't have a triple-click command, is able to simulate a triple click using the

methods outlined in my earlier posts. If your machine is not duplicating these results, I have my doubts about whether or not it would

be successful at running a triple-click command, if even if ME had one.

You may have more success if you open your Control Panel -> Mouse and then slow the double-click mouse speed (this doesn't slow

down how fast the double-click happens, rather it increases the maximum time between clicks to successfully execute a double-click).

I am using the Firefox browser and trying to triple click on a text body and can't get it to work. Tried both ideas above. Just not registering fast enough.

Ok, I just pulled up a local news website in Firefox and tried it again (both versions). I discovered a minor problem. If I

clicked manually on the text immediately before running the triple-click macro, then I had some problems. I introduced a

0.4 second delay before the triple-click series to prevent the problems.

Ideally there is no need to click first, though. You just put the cursor where you want it, then run the macro. 0.4 seconds

isn't very long, though, so the delay could be advantageous to prevent yourself from inadvertently positioning the mouse,

and clicking the button before running the macro.

Other than that, I had no problem with the triple-click macro as I built it up above, even in Firefox. I don't know how

individual mouse-speed settings within your Control Panel might be affecting the functionality of the macro, or if maybe your

computer itself just isn't processing the clicks fast enough. I'm running a pretty fast computer at home, so I will try it again

on my considerably less exciting work computer tomorrow to see if I can duplicate the problem (I don't have access to a

Firefox browser at work, however).