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For example, the Windows Setup screen and the various screens that can be accessed from there.

"Doesn't work with them", in this case, seems to mean that while the application is running, MEP doesn't see key strokes and therefore can't start macros. I have seen the same ME problem under Windows 7, with the Adobe PDF Reader. Adobe says the reader runs in Protected Mode as a security feature. With Adobe the Protected Mode can be turned off, and then ME is happy.

Since my hands are most often on the keyboard, I prefer using keys to using the mouse. One of my most-used macros closes the current application. If Firefox is active, it types Ctrl-w to close the active tab. Otherwise, it clicks in the upper right corner of the active application’s window. The macro is activated by the keypad minus key, and it’s generally quicker to press the key than to manually maneuver the mouse or to press that awkward Alt-F4 combination. Here’s the problem: In many Windows 10 system screens, the key is ignored so the macro doesn’t run. Other hotkey combinations are also ignored – like Ctrl-Alt-w that runs a macro to display all open windows. Is there a Windows 10 setting, or some trick, to overcome this issue?

Intuitively obvious -- NOT!🙃

Well, you learn something every day. Thanks, never knew that. Once the paragraph is selected, mouse operations seem to be affected. Clicking somewhere after the selected paragraph adds the intervening text to the selection. Haven't figured out how to turn it off once it has been turned on.

Interestingly, my son had to do exactly this sort of thing in his job, though he had to actually type each entire response each time. I offered to give him a simple macro, but IT management would not allow ME to be installed on their computers. Troglodytes!

The first thing I would do is get rid of the Word document. With text that short, it could just be embedded in the macro in Text Type commands. However, having the document makes it easy for the user to modify his text without having to involve a macro coder, so let’s keep Word involved. But modify the Word document so paragraphs are delineated by some simple character sequence such as ***. So the Word document is: ***I reached the client and explained the issue. I will follow up by mail. ***I left a voice mail message requesting a call back. ***I left a message with the person who answered the phone and asked that the client call me. ***The telephone number is not in service. I will send a letter. ***The client does not have telephone service. I will send a letter. *** The user would toggle to Word – actually I’d probably give him a macro to do the toggle – then use arrow keys to move anywhere within the paragraph to be selected, and start the macro with a key combination. The macro would then arrow back through the text until *** is located, determining the beginning of the paragraph. Then copy all text forward from that point into the clipboard, and select out the desired paragraph by scanning for the next *** (end of paragraph). Then the macro would switch to the database screen, tab to the proper field, and type or paste the variable containing the captured paragraph. Another method, for ease of two-finger use, would be to dispatch one of five “driver” macros using keys 1 through 5 of the keypad. Each macro corresponds to selecting one of the five paragraphs. A common called macro would then switch to Word, copy the entire Word document to the clipboard, and select out the desired text delineated by counting *** sequences. Then switch to the database screen and type or paste. I like the second method for ease of use, but it requires the user to memorize the paragraph number of each possible text selection. The first method is more flexible if there are too many paragraphs to commit to memory, or if they change often in number or content so memory isn’t feasible. As it has been years since the user has had to change text, he should have committed it to memory by now, so I’d go with method 2 though philosophically I like 1 better. Could also do this with a multiple choice menu, which does away with the user’s need to memorize, and also does away with most of the coding.

I participate in one forum that has a "Flame Suit" section -- only enter if you have a tough skin (asbestos recommended) and are willing to hear what people really think -- better believe I have been reprimanded there. I glad your macro is working now.

Be kind. He has been told this three times now across two or three threads. I think he's a newbie trying to get a feel for ME, so best not to scare him away. When I think of the questions I asked when I started using ME, most people must have assumed I was a total moron. Happily most of those posts are lost in the mists of history, but I could come up with more at any time. 🤔

At the point where you want the date-typing macro to run, instead of triggering it with Ctrl-y, use the Macro Run command: Macro Run: Type_Date

Same here. Usually my problem is what we would euphemistically call "operator error". 🙂

Yes! I was beginning to think I was the only one to have that problem! Rather than gamble, I ALWAYS use the key-down / key-up sequence rather than rely on Macro Express to do it magically. 🙃

Have you set up the forum's "Follow" option so you will be notified of activity on your threads? There were several replies to your previous posting of this question. See upper right on the page to "Follow".

Ouch. You really did mean ALL the menus were dumped at once into the one bag and scrambled together. Sounds to me like a macro file corruption -- did your macro file recently get auto-converted from one ME version to the next, like from 4 to 6?

I had the option set to back up whenever the Editor closed, and it was backing up every time I closed out of editing a macro. That was excessive. Changed the preference to back up when ME itself closed. That was not often enough, so now if I want a backup I do Ctrl-Alt-0 to run a macro that does a Restart ME command. Only takes a few seconds. Incidentally, with ME Pro the Restart resulted in lots of faults/abends, until I inserted a line to wait for file-ready for the log file, and removed the Macro Return command following the Restart. Help screens say that Restart should be the very last command within the macro.

I use just a few small menus. ME Pro 4.9. I haven't seen any problem, but I might not even notice. A challenge sounds like fun -- I would get to reuse the bubble sort logic that I just wrote for displaying active processes. 😛

I'm not familiar with Active Desktop Calendar, but usually after Alt-d to open a menu like that, you would type "e" to go to the item within the menu, rather than "Alt-e". I don't know what your Delay is needed for -- does it take a long time for the Data Menu to open?

Good idea. I think the default is to let ME log to a separate file for each macro. It would be pretty easy to merge the files, import to Excel, and inter-sort the lines by date so as to see them in sequence. EXCEPT see below -- the line "Macro executed" comes from the LOG MESSAGES command -- the line "Macro Completed" comes automatically because LOG ERRORS is found within the macro. Unfortunately the time-stamp formats that ME uses for the messages is significantly different. Maybe Excel can normalize them; I'll have to look into that. 8/7/2020 5:58:59 PM: Macro executed: Temp Friday, August 07, 2020 5:58:59 PM: Macro Completed (Temp)

As explained above (7/17), I've been doing this for years with never a problem, and it has great advantages for reducing clutter and for seeing the timing and sequencing among running macros. But I have always used ME3. After recently converting to ME Pro, and inactivating the Lock/Unlock Player commands from all my macros, there have been a few ME failures when (apparently) more than one macro tried to write to the log at the same time. So take heed if you want to use the log this way. I reactivated the Lock/Unlock Player commands in most of my macros. Each one assumes it is running standalone, anyhow, since with ME3 they had to be.

Same behavior with ME Pro 4.9 and Windows 7. Odd.

What version of ME are you using? You said above, "... when "Variable Set String" opens, you must press Tab five times to get to the first field." Using a macro to insert commands (inspired by your other challenge), I believe I had to TAB only twice. Odd.

I can see where this is useful when coding macros, and makes for one less irritation. I do little enough development these days that the irritation is good to keep me alert. What I never thought about before, however, is that every command window appears focused with its own name and therefore can trigger a macro to run. I will keep that in mind for the future -- it could be handy for tasks other than ironing out inconsistencies. As usual with your challenges, I learned something new even if I didn't write a macro.

So, I finally got around to your suggestion for automating insertion of commands. The more I thought about it, the more I agreed with you that it could save a lot of time. Instead of using separate hot keys for each inserted command, I used a single hot key to start the “insert” macro. The macro displays a menu of commands to be inserted, with the ampersand (&) to make each menu item keyboard-selectable. There is more code for most commands to select generic options, so what is inserted is really a “dummy” command that must be modified afterwards. For example, the inserted “Variable Set String” sets a dummy variable to null. In addition, certain menu selections insert multiple dummy commands: selecting “Repeat Start” results in a skeleton loop: Repeat Start Repeat Exit End Repeat Selecting “If Variable” results in a skeleton If %T[99]% Equals “” Else End If // Log Messages to "C:\Temp\MacroExpressProLogFiles\MacroExpressPro_Macro_Log_File.txt" "Macro executed: 2x_Insert_Common_Macro_Commands" Log Errors to "C:\Temp\MacroExpressProLogFiles\MacroExpressPro_Macro_Log_File.txt" Keystroke Speed: 30 milliseconds Mouse Speed: 30 milliseconds // // Macro displays a multiple-choice box, inserts selected command into macro // If Not Window "Macro Express Pro - Script Editor" is focused Macro Return End If // // Multiple-choice box Multiple Choice Menu: Command List Variable Modify String: Replace "&" in %command% with "" If Variable %command% Equals "" // On null selection, end macro OR If Variable %command% Equals "X - Exit, No Command" // On null selection, end macro Macro Return End If // // Prepare command panel to insert the chosen instruction Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ALTD><ARROW DOWN><ALTU> // Alt-DownArrow to move to "Search for command" field // Select the chosen command from the list Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): %command% Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> // ENTER to insert the command // // For some commands, do extra keystrokes and/or inserts If Variable %command% Equals "Comment" // COMMENT Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <SPACE><TAB><ENTER> // One blank space and ENTER to insert the comment End If // If Variable %command% Equals "Delay" // DELAY Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ARROW DOWN><TAB>250<TAB><TAB><SPACE><TAB><ENTER> // Set 250ms, ignore macro speed factor, ENTER command End If // If Variable %command% Equals "If Variable" // IF VARIABLE For If Variable, also enter Else and End If Delay: 250 milliseconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB><TAB>%T[99]<TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><ENTER> // ENTER to insert the command Delay: 250 milliseconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ALTD><ARROW DOWN><ALTU> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): Else Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> // ENTER to insert the command Delay: 250 milliseconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ALTD><ARROW DOWN><ALTU> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): End If Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> // ENTER to insert the command End If // If Variable %command% Equals "Mouse Move" // MOUSE MOVE Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><ENTER> // Set 250ms, ignore macro speed factor, ENTER command End If // If Variable %command% Equals "Repeat Start" // REPEAT START For Repeat Start, also enter a Repeat Exit and End Repeat Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> // ENTER to insert the command Delay: 250 milliseconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ALTD><ARROW DOWN><ALTU> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): Repeat Exit Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> // ENTER to insert the command Delay: 250 milliseconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ALTD><ARROW DOWN><ALTU> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): End Repeat Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ENTER> // ENTER to insert the command End If // If Variable %command% Equals "Text Type" // TEXT TYPE Macro Return End If // If Variable %command% Equals "Text Box Display" // TEXT BOX DISPLAY Macro Return End If // If Variable %command% Equals "Variable Set String" // VARIABLE SET STRING Delay: 250 milliseconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB><TAB> Variable Set String %T[99]% to "%T[99]%" Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): %T[99]% Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><ENTER> End If // If Variable %command% Equals "Variable Modify String" // VARIABLE MODIFY STRING Delay: 250 milliseconds Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB><TAB> Variable Set String %T[99]% to "%T[99]%" Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): %T[99]% Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <TAB><TAB><ENTER> End If // // // Macro Return // //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// <COMMENT Value=" "/> <LOG MESSAGES Filename="C:\\Temp\\MacroExpressProLogFiles\\MacroExpressPro_Macro_Log_File.txt" Message="Macro executed: 2x_Insert_Common_Macro_Commands" Stamp="TRUE"/> <LOG ERRORS Filename="C:\\Temp\\MacroExpressProLogFiles\\MacroExpressPro_Macro_Log_File.txt" Hide_Errors="FALSE"/> <KEYSTROKE SPEED Delay="30"/> <MOUSE SPEED Delay="30"/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <COMMENT Value="Macro displays a multiple-choice box, inserts selected command into macro"/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <IF NOT WINDOW Option="\x00" Title="Macro Express Pro - Script Editor" Partial="TRUE" Wildcards="FALSE"/> <MACRO RETURN/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <COMMENT Value="Multiple-choice box"/> <MULTIPLE CHOICE MENU Style="\x00" Result="\x01" Dest="%command%" Title="Command List" Prompt=" Choose command to insert" Options="&Comment\r\n&Delay\r\n&If Variable\r\nMacro R&eturn\r\n&Mouse Move\r\nMouse &Left Click\r\n&Repeat Start\r\n&Text Type\r\nText &Box Display\r\nVariable Set &String\r\nVariable M&odify String\r\n&X - Exit, No Command" Left="Center" Top="Center" Monitor="0" Width="443" Height="226" OnTop="FALSE" Columns="Auto"/> <VARIABLE MODIFY STRING Option="\x0F" Destination="%command%" ToReplace="&" All="TRUE" IgnoreCase="FALSE" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="On null selection, end macro\r\n"/> <OR/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" Value="X - Exit, No Command" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="On null selection, end macro\r\n"/> <MACRO RETURN/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <COMMENT Value="Prepare command panel to insert the chosen instruction"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ALTD><ARROW DOWN><ALTU>" _COMMENT="Alt-DownArrow to move to \"Search for command\" field"/> <COMMENT Value="Select the chosen command from the list"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="%command%"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>" _COMMENT="ENTER to insert the command"/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <COMMENT Value="For some commands, do extra keystrokes and/or inserts"/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" Value="Comment" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="COMMENT"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<SPACE><TAB><ENTER>" _COMMENT="One blank space and ENTER to insert the comment"/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" Value="Delay" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="DELAY"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ARROW DOWN><TAB>250<TAB><TAB><SPACE><TAB><ENTER>" _COMMENT="Set 250ms, ignore macro speed factor, ENTER command"/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" Value="If Variable" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="IF VARIABLE For If Variable, also enter Else and End If"/> <DELAY Flags="\x12" Time="250"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB><TAB>%T[99]<TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><ENTER>" _COMMENT="ENTER to insert the command"/> <DELAY Flags="\x12" Time="250"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ALTD><ARROW DOWN><ALTU>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="Else"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>" _COMMENT="ENTER to insert the command"/> <DELAY Flags="\x12" Time="250"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ALTD><ARROW DOWN><ALTU>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="End If"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>" _COMMENT="ENTER to insert the command"/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" Value="Mouse Move" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="MOUSE MOVE"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><ENTER>" _COMMENT="Set 250ms, ignore macro speed factor, ENTER command"/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" Value="Repeat Start" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="REPEAT START For Repeat Start, also enter a Repeat Exit and End Repeat"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>" _COMMENT="ENTER to insert the command"/> <DELAY Flags="\x12" Time="250"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ALTD><ARROW DOWN><ALTU>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="Repeat Exit"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>" _COMMENT="ENTER to insert the command"/> <DELAY Flags="\x12" Time="250"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ALTD><ARROW DOWN><ALTU>"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="End Repeat"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ENTER>" _COMMENT="ENTER to insert the command"/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" Value="Text Type" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="TEXT TYPE"/> <MACRO RETURN/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" Value="Text Box Display" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="TEXT BOX DISPLAY"/> <MACRO RETURN/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" Value="Variable Set String" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="VARIABLE SET STRING"/> <DELAY Flags="\x12" Time="250"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB><TAB>"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%T[99]%" Value="%T[99]%" NoEmbeddedVars="TRUE"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="%T[99]%"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB><TAB><TAB><TAB><ENTER>"/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <IF VARIABLE Variable="%command%" Condition="\x00" Value="Variable Modify String" IgnoreCase="FALSE" _COMMENT="VARIABLE MODIFY STRING"/> <DELAY Flags="\x12" Time="250"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB><TAB>"/> <VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x00" Destination="%T[99]%" Value="%T[99]%" NoEmbeddedVars="TRUE"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="%T[99]%"/> <TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<TAB><TAB><ENTER>"/> <END IF/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <COMMENT Value=" "/> <MACRO RETURN/> <COMMENT Value=" "/>

If you come up with something for Gmail, let us know. I had a great macro that handled the list of emails on the Inbox screen to identify and delete duplicates. Gmail changed some time ago so the macro is now useless.

I discovered that just yesterday when trying to use controls to click on a button. 😧 I have scripts for some web sites where a button or image appears, and maybe also changes color when the mouse hovers over it, once the page has loaded. Since I know where the button will be, I put the mouse there and keep checking the color until it gets to what I want. I also use Cory's method of examining the URL -- I didn't know F6 would highlight it, I have been using Alt-d. Also for some pages it works to click within the page, Ctrl-a to highlight everything and copy to clipboard, and look for identifying text. Typing END or clicking the mouse again usually clears the highlighting.