kunkel321

I'd like to edit a .txt file (replace its entire text with the contents of a Text Var) but I'd prefer to do it "behind the scenes." I see how to rename it or change it's attributes, but not its content.... DOes anyone know if this is possible? THanks -steve

I'm guessing that MacExp doesn't care whether I use

========================

IF variable %123% = foo

Do this

END IF

IF variable %123% = bar

Do this

END IF

IF variable %123% = zip

Do this

END IF

IF variable %123% = bam

Do this

END IF

========================

or if I use

========================

SWITCH

CASE variable %123% = foo

Do this

END CASE

CASE variable %123% = bar

Do this

END CASE

CASE variable %123% = zip

Do this

END CASE

CASE variable %123% = bam

Do this

END CASE

END SWITCH

========================

I haven't actually used the 'Switch' one so I'm not sure if this syntax is correct, but I think it is...

I've looked in Visual Basic books and in VB it looks like the Select Case option is actually more compact than having multiple ifs (i.e. you do the same thing but with fewer lines of code).

With MacExp though, it seems that the Case method actually uses *more* lines of code that just using If/End If over and over....

Are there other benefits to using "Case" that I'm missing???

Thanks. -steve

Hi All,

I'm just now getting around to posting this..

A while back somebody posted a questions about remembering ths locations of the windows on the Desktop. I was playing around to see if I could write a macro for the job; didn't get very far.

These two lines of code seem to crash MacExp.

=====

<REPEAT WITH WINDOWS ToRetrieve="\x01" SortOrder="\x00" Destination="%txtWindows%"/>

<END REPEAT/>

=====

The first line is 'repeat with open windows in order of window' The variable is a text variable.

I don't have an activation, I just click the blue Test Run arrow.

Does this cause a crash for others? If it does I'll report it to the MacExp mothership.

Thanks -steve

I wonder if it would be helpful to throw in a superfluous <SHIFTUP>??

Just speculating, but I image the Shift in "Shift-Home" is not always releasing...

I find a similar thing when typing into the notes field in MindManager... My macros work perfectly in Note Pad, Word, and other apps, but in MM I get irregular "mis-types" about 20% of the time. Usually it'll be skipped letters, but occasionally I'll get ALL CAPS. I speculate that there are background processes from MM that are competing for computer resources while MacExpPro is trying to run... DOn't know for sure though.

If you (Terry) get a working "self-checking" loop (as you suggested in your last post), please share... I'd like to see how you do it--might implement one too. -steve

I've been looking for a program (ideally freeware) that will save & restore the current windows layout. [....]

LOL. You'll kick yourself when you see how easy this was... Just did a general Google search for "freeware save window positions."

One of the promising hits was this:

http://www.vicman.net/getfree/Resetter_12523s.html

I've never used software from vicman before, so you should right click the application and do "scan" before installing it. Might want to do a system backup too. Alternately you could go to download.com (a known reputable site) and search there.

I should note that I'm a freeware nut... I've seen lots of different versions of icon/window position savers, so I knew I could google for it... -steve

I think I may have solved it....

The actual macro was an automatic convert from MEv3--even though it had been completely reworked.. As such, MEpro wants all of the variables to end with[1], even though it doesn't require it. That's why durring my testing (which was done with newly made sub-macros) everything worked.

What I ended up doing was simply copy-n-pasting the code into a newly created MEpro macro. When I saved it, it prompted me to declare all of the macros. It appears to work fine....

Side note:

What's funny is that when I have a tech problem (with ME or another app/forum) I typically rack my brain and never figure it out untill I post it as a question. Then I imediately figure out the solution... Oh well

Hi Folks,

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here, or if this is some type of bug...

I have an application that I use for tracking clients. I have a macro that I use for inserting client notes. The application (Mind Manager8) does seem to like simulated keystrokes, so (with the help of the forum member here ) I've developed a macro that *should* paste something like the following:

======

On Mon 3/9/2009 at 11:40 AM phone conversation with teacher, notes were as follows:

======

"phone" "converstation" and "teacher" are chosen from among other items in a dialog. I will paste the code below... A summary of the lines of code are as follows:

1. Multiple choice menu. Save item text to a text variable (txtContactType)

2. Set another text variable to "=======<ENTER>On " (txtComposite)

3. Generate the current date and time and save to another text variable (txtDate)

4. Append txtDate to txtComposite.

5. Append txtContactType to txtComposite

6. Set another text variable to "notes were as follows:<ENTER><ENTER>=======" (txtForComposite)

7. Append txtForComposite to txtComposite

8. Use Text Type (paste method) to insert %txtComposite% into active text field.

9. An extra Text Type <CTRLUP> just incase it gets stuck down...

Here is the code:

<MULTIPLE CHOICE MENU Style="\x01" Result="\x01" Dest="%txtContactType%" Title="Contact Notes" Prompt="Specifics of contact?" Options="Phone \r\nEmail \r\nMail \r\nFax \r\nMeeting \r\nConversation \r\nTesting \r\nVoice message \r\nInterview \r\nConference \r\nTalked \r\nwith \r\nfrom \r\nto \r\nsent to \r\nleft for \r\nParent, \r\nIEP Team members, \r\nTeacher, \r\nRR Teacher, \r\nSLP, \r\nOT, \r\nAdmin, " Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Width="582" Height="388" OnTop="FALSE"/>

<VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%txtComposite%" Value="======\r\nOn "/>

<DATE/TIME Format="DDDD M/d/yy @ t " Flags="\x80" Date="12/30/1899" Day_Offset="0" Month_Offset="0" Year_Offset="0" Hour_Offset="0" Second_Offset="0" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Variable="%txtDate%" IsDateVar="FALSE" _IGNORE="0x0002"/>

<VARIABLE MODIFY STRING Option="\x07" Destination="%txtComposite%" Variable="%txtDate%"/>

<VARIABLE MODIFY STRING Option="\x07" Destination="%txtComposite%" Variable="%txtContactType%"/>

<VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%txtForComposite%" Value=" the notes are as follows:\r\n\r\n=======\r\n"/>

<VARIABLE MODIFY STRING Option="\x07" Destination="%txtComposite%" Variable="%txtForComposite%"/>

<TEXT TYPE Action="1" Text="%txtComposite%"/>

<TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ARROW UP>"/>

It seems like it should work, and the different steps *do* seem to work in isolation, but when I run the whole thing, it doesn't recognize the first variable. Note that all variable *are* declaired. They are global and are not arrays...

Ideas? Thanks -steve

[...] In Macro Express Pro the command is Variable Set String %FromClipboard% from the clipboard contents. Similarly, there is a command to copy from a string variable to the clipboard Variable Modify String: Save %FromClipboard% to the clipboard. [...]

Ah yes! I have no idea how I missed that.... One of those days I guess

Thanks Kevin

Sheesh. It seems like I used to be really good at writing macros, now I can hardly accomplish anything!!!

I've got a macro that inserts some date and time info via pasting from variables. (Note that Text Typing them in isn't an option, must use paste--see other topic of mine). Under certain circumstances I want to first select and copy the content of an email message, then paste said content into my notes after the date and time stamp. So what I need to do, is *store* the "real" contents of the clipboard so that they are not lost when that are over-written by the date and time info by my macro. Logical thing is to have a text variable %txtClipBrdHolder% and move the content of the Windows clipbord there at the begining of the macro, then retrieve it at the end. ... FOr the life of me I can't see how to do this. Am I just missing it; or is there another way to accomplish this?? I found how to write the clipboard contents to an .ini file, but that is too slow....

Ideas? Thanks -steve

Hy Guys,

Thanks for the replies. I haven't totally solved this, but I wanted to give feedback. Slowing down the macro speed didn't seem to help. In most similar scenarios I think it would, but not with Mind Manager. The only thing I can figure is that MM has some type of background process regularly cycling, that takes precedence over MacExpPro. What ever key command is being send to the key que by MEp gets "lost." If the MM event happens to occur right at the end of an operation that involves the Ctrl command, then the Ctrl key is left down and things really get screwed-up. Using the clipboard does work *much* better--still not perfectly though. Portions in the mddle of the "On DDD m/d/yy at HH:MM ampm:" don't get left out anymore with clipboard paste, but about one out of 10 times it will still get stuck in the Ctrl down position. I remedied this by including a Text Type command of: <CTRLUP><CTRLUP><CTRLUP>. This ensures that the Ctrl key isn't left down. Of course the macro still doesn't play properly during the one of of 10 times.... It just essentially aborts. I can live with that though

Thanks again -steve

Hi All,

I recently got Mind Manager 8, a graphics and plugin-intensive program. It's a major resource hog.

I have a simple macro for on-the-fly note taking. It's shortkey-activated and types out

"On DDD, M/d/YY, @ t:"

It works fine in smaller apps, but does all kind of weird things when I'm typing into the notes area of a MM item. I assume that this is because MM is a HUGE program and maybe because there are so many behind-the-scenes processes going on?

Usually it will type out correctly except for leaving out several characters. Other times will type @#%) as though the Shift key was down when the numbers in the date and time are getting entered. One time it even typed the "t" instead of typing out the time...

I thought that there was a way to slow down the keystrokes for an individual macro, but I couldn't see how...

Ideas one what might cause this or how to fix it?

Note that this is not a RAM issue. I have 2 GB.

Thanks -steve

If your taskbar is a different color than your desktop picture, maybe you can use the trusty old "get pixel color" (?)

Now my question is: Will my current Macros work within Pro without Modification? (Backward Compatiblity?) Also, I purchased the PGM Functions Library v3.4.01 and I haven't been able to find anything regarding these powerful tools. Will they continue to work, or is there an Update I need to locate? Thanks!

I can't comment on the PGM library, But all of my old macros work in MEpro... There have been a few posts about people having difficulties doing "imports." I didn't do that, all I did was open my macro MEX file in MEpro and in converted them to the new format. MEpro has the ability to simultaneously run multiple macros, so as a safety precaution it adds "Lock Macro" commands to the beginning and ending of each macro.

The new version is more efficient and can play macros faster. Some folks have reported the the timing is off on their macros, but I personally, have not seen this.

Folks who want to tinker with custom icons can also checkout my previous 'Geek tip' R2D2 post.

The afore mentioned IcoFX (free) will allow you to save images as .ico files and is more powerful than FormatFactory (also free), but FF is easier to use. Unfortunately anyone who makes their own icons will (as far as I know) need to seek a third party application that can SaveAs .ico format. No vanilla Windows utility will let you do this. Of course MacExp has a pretty big library of ready-to-use icons. There are also some third party sets in the download package that you can use (WhistlerXP and WinXP are my faves -sk

I'm not aware of any way to do bulk changes, but one thing that helps a little is to collect the icons you want (there's a free app called IcoFX that will do bulk extractions) and put them in a folder. Then move the folder to Prog Files/MacroExpress/. When you go to change an icon, the browser will always start at this location.

A bit off-topic here, but what-the-heck... There's a funny website here

http://www.r2d2translator.com/

where you can type in a word and have it translated to R2D2. You can then download the sound file as an .mp3 file.

The default sound file format for Windows is .wav, so after you download the .mp3, convert it to .wav. If you don't have a utility to convert it, there is a pretty cool freebie called Format Factory here (It's sponsored by eBay and will "offer" to add eBay to your favorites... Just uncheck the option)

http://www.formatoz.com/

you can also get it from here

http://www.download.com/FormatFactory/3000....html?tag=mncol

Just save the .wav in a place where you can find it on your hard drive and from the MacExp editor, go to Multimedia>Sound File>Browse, and embed the R2D2 sound into your macro!

BONUS Geek Tip: Format Factory will also let you convert any image (small, square, low-detail ones work best) into an .ico file ... From the MacExpPro Script Editor you can click the macro's identifying icon--left of the (now editable) Macro Nickname field. This will allow you to assign your custom .ico to it

That's all! Happy Holidays!!!

Hi All,

I didn't try to do the "Import old macros" option, I just located my ME3 file on my computer and opened it in MEpro. IT seems to have worked fine, but I have noted that as a safety precaution MEpro has inserted "Lock player" and "Unlock" commands at the beginning and ending of each macro. I read in one of the other posts that there is a potential for a conflict if 2 macros are simultaneously sending info to the key-que. I guess there is probably an unlimited number of possible scenarios for conflict, since ME can manipulate *so many* of the Windows OS functions. I'm not an expert, but I suppose any time you try to do two different things to the same file, application, or process at the same time, one of two things will happen: 1. One of the macros won't work; or 2. There will be a crash somewhere.

I'm hoping some of our local experts can expand on this... What are the mostly likely scenarios for conflict? When are the Lock/Unlock commands definitely NOT needed in a macro? What are some examples of cases where folks have used the lock?

Thanks.

-steve

I just now figured out how to use the Variable Values Debugger window in the Script Editor. It's possible to settup a filter to show only the variables you're interested in, then you can set Break Points in the lines of code and "spy on" the variable values as you step through the code-- VERY COOL!

I'm not sure I understand the Filter syntax though....

(Possibly because I've opened a v3 file in MEpro) I have a bunch of unused variables: C[1] ... C[99], T[1] ... etc, etc.

I see that I can set it to show ONLY the variables that contain info by setting "Row is greater than 0." Logically, it seems like setting "Row is not blank" should work the same way, but it doesn't seem to... Perhaps there is another way this "is not blank" option is supposed to work(?) Thoughts? Either way it's pretty cool.

Tip: Once you've started setting up the filter, click [Customize] in the lower-right of the Variable Values Debugger window and it shows a pretty cool Tree-View of the filter.... -steve

Here's a good dilema for you Gurus: Using MEpro, I have a loop of the form of

\\simplified version!===========================

Set varCounter =0

Set varDynamicDate = today

LOOP UNTIL varCounter = 35

-Extract day of week (ddd) from varDynamicDate put it in varWeekday

--Logic: IF varWeekday = "Sat"

--OR

--IF varWeekday = "Sun"

---go to label: WeekendSkip

--ELSE it's not a weekend so varCounter = varCounter +1

--END IF

-Label: WeekendSkip

-on each loop ADD varDynamicDate = varDynamicDate +1

END LOOP

Text Box display: "35 days later is %varDynamicDate%

\\===================================

Basically this is a loop that will count 35 days into the future, EXCLUDING weekends.

The problem is that I can't see how to extract "ddd" from anything but "today." Does anyone else see a way?

Thanks for any ideas -steve

=====

I'll post my actual code incase anyone wants to tinker with it... I think it might have an additional bug that causes it to loop endlessly ... haven't gotten to the point of debugging that part though

Note that it's more coplicated than the above.. Lets you choose the start date and also excludes a list of public school holidays....

<COMMENT Value="Determine today and change it to a decimal."/>
<DATE/TIME Flags="\xB0" Date="12/19/2008 8:45:26 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="%vDatDateNow%" IsDateVar="TRUE"/>
<CONVERT DATE/TIME TO DECIMAL Source="%vDatDateNow%" Dest="%vDecDateNow%"/>
<COMMENT Value="Either choose 'today' or select your own date >> gets turned into \"vDecStart.\""/>
<MULTIPLE CHOICE MENU Style="\x00" Result="\x01" Dest="%vTxtStartFrom%" Title="Start counting from..." Prompt="Whould you like to count from today (%vDatDateNow%) or choose a custom date?" Options="Today\r\nChoose" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Width="443" Height="296" OnTop="FALSE"/>
<IF VARIABLE Variable="%vTxtStartFrom%" Condition="\x00" Value="Today" IgnoreCase="FALSE"/>
<VARIABLE SET DECIMAL Option="\x00" Destination="%vDecStart%" Value="%vDecDateNow%"/>
<END IF/>
<IF VARIABLE Variable="%vTxtStartFrom%" Condition="\x00" Value="Choose" IgnoreCase="FALSE"/>
<DATE/TIME Flags="\xB3" Date="12/22/2008 10:01:29 AM" Day_Offset="0" Month_Offset="0" Year_Offset="0" Hour_Offset="0" Minute_Offset="0" Second_Offset="0" Prompt="Choose the STARTING date." Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Variable="%vDatStartChoice%" IsDateVar="TRUE"/>
<CONVERT DATE/TIME TO DECIMAL Source="%vDatStartChoice%" Dest="%vDecStart%"/>
<END IF/>
<COMMENT Value="Change it to an Integer to round it, then change it back to a Decimal."/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY INTEGER Option="\x00" Destination="%vIntStart%" Value1="%vDecStart%" Value2="0"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY DECIMAL Option="\x00" Destination="%vDecStart%" Value1="%vIntStart%" Value2="0"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="starting at " Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 Starting at %vDecStart%\\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" _ENABLED="FALSE"/>
<COMMENT Value="Choose how many days to count.  (only 35 works)"/>
<MULTIPLE CHOICE MENU Style="\x00" Result="\x01" Dest="%vTxtTimeline%" Title="What kind of timeline?" Prompt="Choose the type of timeline you would like to calculate ..." Options="35 School Days\r\n45 Calendar Days\r\n25 School Days\r\n60 Calendar Days\r\n30 School Days" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Width="443" Height="296" OnTop="FALSE"/>
<IF VARIABLE Variable="%vTxtTimeline%" Condition="\x00" Value="35 School Days" IgnoreCase="FALSE"/>
<VARIABLE SET INTEGER Option="\x00" Destination="%vIntLengthofTimeline%" Value="35"/>
<VARIABLE SET BOOL Destination="%vBooIsSchDay%" Command="263" Value="TRUE" _ENABLED="FALSE"/>
<ELSE/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Not yet implemented " Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 Not yet implemented.\r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="Center" Width="278" Height="200" Monitor="0" OnTop="FALSE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x00" Delay="0"/>
<END IF/>
<COMMENT Value="Get together the needed variables.  "/>
<VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%vTxtHolidates%" Value="9/12/2008,  10/11/2008,  10/30/2008,  10/31/2008,  11/27/2008,  11/28/2008,  12/5/2008,  12/22/2008,  12/23/2008,  12/24/2008,  12/25/2008,  12/26/2008,  12/27/2008,  12/28/2008,  12/29/2008,  12/30/2008,  12/31/2008,  1/1/2009,  1/2/2009,  1/19/2009,  1/20/2009,  2/16/2009,  2/17/2009,  3/25/2009,  3/26/2009,  3/27/2009,  3/30/2009,  3/31/2009,  4/1/2009,  4/2/2009,  4/3/2009,  5/22/2009,  5/25/2009,  6/16/2009,  6/17/2009,  6/18/2009,  6/19/2009,  6/20/2009,  6/21/2009,  6/22/2009,  6/23/2009,  6/24/2009,  6/25/2009,  6/26/2009,  6/27/2009,  6/28/2009,  6/29/2009,  6/30/2009,  7/1/2009,  7/2/2009,  7/3/2009,  7/4/2009,  7/5/2009,  7/6/2009,  7/7/2009,  7/8/2009,  7/9/2009,  7/10/2009,  7/11/2009,  7/12/2009,  7/13/2009,  7/14/2009,  7/15/2009,  7/16/2009,  7/17/2009,  7/18/2009,  7/19/2009,  7/20/2009,  7/21/2009,  7/22/2009,  7/23/2009,  7/24/2009,  7/25/2009,  7/26/2009,  7/27/2009,  7/28/2009,  7/29/2009,  7/30/2009,  7/31/2009,  8/1/2009,  8/2/2009,  8/3/2009,  8/4/2009,  8/5/2009,  8/6/2009,  8/7/2009,  8/8/2009,  8/9/2009,  8/10/2009,  8/11/2009,  8/12/2009,  8/13/2009,  8/14/2009,  8/15/2009,  8/16/2009,  8/17/2009,  8/18/2009,  8/19/2009,  8/20/2009,  8/21/2009,  8/22/2009,  8/23/2009,  8/24/2009,  8/25/2009,  8/26/2009,  8/27/2009,  8/28/2009,  8/29/2009,  8/30/2009,  8/31/2009,  9/1/2009,  9/2/2009,  9/3/2009, "/>
<CONVERT DECIMAL TO DATE/TIME Source="%vDecStart%" Dest="%vDatDateDynamic%"/>
<VARIABLE SET DECIMAL Option="\x00" Destination="%vDecDateDynamic%" Value="%vDecStart%"/>
<VARIABLE SET INTEGER Option="\x00" Destination="%vIntCountedDays%" Value="0"/>
<COMMENT Value="Start the loop. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++"/>
<REPEAT UNTIL Variable="%vIntCountedDays%" Condition="\x00" Value="%vIntLengthofTimeline%"/>
<VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="vTxtDateDynamic" Value="%vDatDateDynamic%"/>
<DATE/TIME Format="ddd" Flags="\xB0" Date="12/23/2008 10:01:41 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="%vTxtWeekday%" IsDateVar="FALSE"/>
<IF VARIABLE Variable="%vTxtWeekday%" Condition="\x00" Value="Sat" IgnoreCase="FALSE"/>
<OR/>
<IF VARIABLE Variable="%vTxtWeekday%" Condition="\x00" Value="Sun" IgnoreCase="FALSE"/>
<OR/>
<COMMENT Value="Check to see if vTxtDateDynamic's current date is a holiday."/>
<IF VARIABLE Variable="%vTxtHolidates%" Condition="\x06" Value="%vTxtDateDynamic%" IgnoreCase="FALSE"/>
<GOTO Name="NotSchoolDay"/>
<END IF/>
<COMMENT Value="If it's NOT a weekend or holiday then  increment the counter."/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY INTEGER Option="\x00" Destination="%vIntCountedDays%" Value1="%vIntCountedDays%" Value2="1"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Counted days is " Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 Counted days is %vIntCountedDays%\r\n\\par }\r\n" Left="Center" Top="Center" Width="278" Height="200" Monitor="0" OnTop="FALSE" Keep_Focus="TRUE" Mode="\x00" Delay="0" _ENABLED="FALSE"/>
<LABEL Name="NotSchoolDay"/>
<VARIABLE MODIFY DECIMAL Option="\x00" Destination="%vDecDateDynamic%" Value1="%vDecDateDynamic%" Value2="1"/>
<END REPEAT/>
<COMMENT Value="Loop ends. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++"/>
<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="The due date is ...." Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 Due date is %vDatDateDynamic%...\\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 too would like to see a feature like this at some point. I guess this would be a sort of "form builder" similar to User-Defined Forms that are used in VBA...

========

I made myself an Outlook "Task maker" (MEv3) that collects the Subject and Date and pastes them into a new task... It has to be started from an active text field though. For example if I'm typing and I need to make a task, I type

Buy milk at the store

12-22-08

##myShortkey

The macro just uses

Text Type: <UP ARROW><SHIFT><END>

cut to clipboard, from clipboard to T1, repeat.

It works good for me, but if other people were using it, that wouldn't have any idea what to do....

Here's the code

<COMMENT Value="Makes an Outlook Task from 2 lines of editable text."/>
<COMMENT Value="GET INFO. ===== =================="/>
<CLIPBOARD EMPTY/>
<TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ARROW UP>"/>
<WAIT FOR TEXT PLAYBACK Indefinite="TRUE" Hours="0" Minutes="0" Seconds="0"/>
<TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SHIFT><END>"/>
<WAIT FOR TEXT PLAYBACK Indefinite="TRUE" Hours="0" Minutes="0" Seconds="0"/>
<CLIPBOARD CUT/>
<WAIT FOR TEXT PLAYBACK Indefinite="TRUE" Hours="0" Minutes="0" Seconds="0"/>
<VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x02" Destination="%dueDate%"/>
<CLIPBOARD EMPTY/>
<TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ARROW UP>"/>
<WAIT FOR TEXT PLAYBACK Indefinite="TRUE" Hours="0" Minutes="0" Seconds="0"/>
<TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SHIFT><END>"/>
<WAIT FOR TEXT PLAYBACK Indefinite="TRUE" Hours="0" Minutes="0" Seconds="0"/>
<CLIPBOARD CUT/>
<WAIT FOR TEXT PLAYBACK Indefinite="TRUE" Hours="0" Minutes="0" Seconds="0"/>
<VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x02" Destination="%subject%"/>
<COMMENT Value="MAKE TASK ============================="/>
<PROGRAM LAUNCH Path="C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office12\\OUTLOOK.EXE" Mode="\x00" Parameters="/c ipm.task" Default_Path="FALSE" Wait="1" Get_Console="FALSE"/>
<WAIT FOR WINDOW TITLE Title="Untitled - Task  " Partial="TRUE" Wildcards="FALSE" Indefinite="FALSE" Hours="0" Minutes="10" Seconds="0"/>
<TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ALT>u%subject%"/>
<WAIT FOR TEXT PLAYBACK Indefinite="TRUE" Hours="0" Minutes="0" Seconds="0"/>
<TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ALT>r%dueDate%"/>
<WAIT FOR TEXT PLAYBACK Indefinite="TRUE" Hours="0" Minutes="0" Seconds="0"/>
<TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ALT>hav"/>

Awesome! My most-hoped-for feature has been implemented: Date variables!

Sample:

<DATE/TIME Flags="\xB2" Date="12/19/2008 3:51:26 PM" Day_Offset="-2" Month_Offset="0" Year_Offset="0" Hour_Offset="0" Minute_Offset="0" Second_Offset="0" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Variable="%varTime%" IsDateVar="TRUE"/>

<CONVERT DATE/TIME TO DECIMAL Source="%varTime%" Dest="%varTimDec%"/>

<VARIABLE MODIFY DECIMAL Option="\x00" Destination="%varTimDec%" Value1="%varTimDec%" Value2="7"/>

<TEXT BOX DISPLAY Title="Sample " Content="{\\rtf1\\ansi\\ansicpg1252\\deff0\\deflang1033{\\fonttbl{\\f0\\fnil\\fcharset0 Tahoma;}{\\f1\\fnil Tahoma;}}\r\n\\viewkind4\\uc1\\pard\\f0\\fs16 Result is %varTimDec%...\\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"/>

1 Set date to date variable

2 Convert date var to decimal var

3 Do whatever you want to it!!! cha-ching!

Sign me up! -sk

Off Topic here:

I recently found a neat tool called Winspector Spy by some fellow named Russ. It's donationware.

Is at http://www.windows-spy.com/

It's similar to the Process Explorer Windows Power Toy but is specific to individual windows. If you right-click a windows name there is an option to "highlight window" which is kind of interesting. The "system requirements" lists XP, but I've been using it on Vista too. That's all. -sk

I'm not sure about this case, but a couple of observations:

Some windows don’t like to be resized. For example you can't make the MacExp Editor window that narrow. Another tricky bit about windows is that there are many hidden windows running at any given time. You can see some of them by going to the MacExp Scripting Editor and opening your Window Resize command. Then choose 'specific window' and click the Select Window button. When the window selector dialog comes up, choose the 'Hidden' tab. I wonder if it's possible the one of these hidden windows are 'kicking-in' before you can hit the hot key (?) If that were the case though, I think that nothing would (visibly) happen, so this still wouldn't explain why you have the window going to the wrong side of the screen... Is it possible that you have another old macro that also resizes windows, or do you have another third-party utility though could be doing this?? IF the window was *manually* put in the right corner, 800x600, maybe the Windows OS is remembering this setting??

... I am guessing the delays are to give the screen time to change. ...

If this is a webpage, the 'wait for page to load' command might be an option. Also note that if the 'title' of the active window changes, then that might be useful too.... -sk

I would agree with Terry,

I haven't used this exact set up, but I think that pressing Page Down should reliably scroll the page down the same number of pixels each time it's evoked. As such, Text Type <PAGE DOWN>, then Move mouse to location X, Y (relative to window; not screen) and click. If there are problems with the checkbox moving further down as the webpage loads you *might* be able to do a "Wait for webpage to load" delay before clicking.... -sk