kevin

I'm not sure what might be happening but have you looked at the converted macro to see what the macro commands look like? Is it possible that there is something being typed after the <TAB>? Maybe there is something that is not displayed in the field like a space or an arrow up/down/left/right. Once determine what is causing the inconsistent behavior we can figure out why it did not occur in Macro Express 3. (It could be a conversion problem, a difference in timing, or something else.)

Re: Macro Last Run time The Last Run information is stored in the registry, not within the macro file itself. When a macro file is reopened or restored from a backup this information is reset. The reason it was designed this was was due to performance reasons. It is faster to update the information within the registry than to have to read and write to the macro file each time the macro runs. We will consider your suggestion to maintain the last run information for a future version. But, as this would be a major change it will not be implemented in a minor update to Macro Express Pro.

I hope I correctly understand what you are trying to do. It is possible for an external process to create a file containing macro commands. It is not possible to create an activation for a macro created this way but you can use an existing macro, along with its activation, to run the macro created by the external process. Here's how: Create a macro with the activation you want. Inside the macro include the 'Load Macro Text File' command. This will run the macro created by the external process when the activation is typed. You might want to add macro commands before and/or after the 'Load Macro Text File' command. For example, you may want to add an 'If File Exists' command to make sure the external macro file exists before running it. And if your macro is meant to only be run once, you might want to delete the external macro file after it runs. To design the process in the external program (e.g. your database) you will need to see how the macro commands look in the Direct Editor. Create a sample macro (without activation) that performs essentially what you want to perform and then view it in the Direct Editor. Write whatever you need to have the database program create what you need with the specific changes you need. For example, to create a macro that enters a contact you may create a sample macro that uses 'Name', 'Address' and 'Email'. Then when writing the program within the database have it enter the correct name, address and email address where 'Name', 'Address' and 'Email' appear in the sample macro.

Macro Express Pro v 4.1.3.1 Macro Express Pro v 4.1.3.1 has been released. This version corrects 3 bugs. The Release Notes for v 4.1.3.1 contain details about the changes. For more information, including a description of the recent changes to Macro Express Pro along with tips and sample macros, we invite you to read the January 5, 2010 issue of the Macro Express News. The latest version of Macro Express Pro may be downloaded from the Macro Express download page.

Our support people have been looking for your email but say they have not received it. Please try again. The email address is "info at wintools dot com". Please include a brief description of the issue so they will know who you are. What version of Macro Express Pro are you using? There was a change in Macro Express Pro v 4.1.1.1 that affected the controls. Using the latest version of Macro Express Pro may help.

I think one of the moderators could move the entire topic to the Macro Express Pro forum. We'll let them worry about it. We do not have a way to send an email message to you from the forum. Please contact us via our support email address listed on our contact page (<-- click this link). We have been watching for your email.

I'm sorry, I missed that you had posted a sample macro in your initial post. Thank you for posting another sample. We will look into the problem to try to find out what is going wrong but we need some additional information. Would you please contact Insight Software Solution's support at the email address on our contact page? Once you contact us directly we will be able to ask questions directly. Your sample macro was created with Macro Express Pro but this topic was posted in the Macro Express 3 forum. To avoid confusion and to help you get more accurate answers, please post Macro Express Pro questions in the Macro Express Pro forum.

In the 'Capture Control' dialog there is an option that you can choose titled 'Capture using text'. Have you tried capturing the control with that option? Could you post a sample of your macro that fails? (Please use 'Code' tags ... see the 'Wrap in code tags' icon above.)

From within the Macro Express Pro Explorer click Options, Preferences, Playback.

The chance of us making the changes you request is zero if you do not make the request. Your request will be evaluated and prioritized with all other requests. We cannot say at this time when or if these specific suggestions will be implemented. How the Window Control commands work is limited by Windows. If they work for your application, fine. If they do not, then they do not. Is there room for improvement? Certainly. Is it possible to make the improvements you request? Maybe, maybe not. "I am really upset that" you continue to claim that the Window Control commands do not work in "at least a semi-workable way." Many Macro Express users are using the Window Control commands in a variety of ways and many different applications. They are a very powerful feature of Macro Express and work great if the application you are automating allows them.

Feature requests can be made on Insight Software Solutions' Request a Feature web page.

No. We cannot predict what actions will require a reboot but the installer can tell if one is needed. If the installer asks to reboot, please reboot!! If you cannot reboot, then close Macro Express Pro and do not use it until you can reboot. The first panel of the installer says to close all open programs before continuing. This warning is meant to avoid strange problems, like the one you experienced. When the installer detects that it cannot install and/or delete one or more files, it displays the reboot message. If you do not reboot and continue to use Macro Express Pro unexpected and often bad things happen. "dots"? What do you mean? Unusable because of the File menu or something else? Finally, this type of back and forth exchange is best handled in private email conversations with a support person. After you entered the bug report we responded with questions but did not receive a response.

It sounds like the menu bar may have been dragged off the Macro Express Pro Explorer window. The menus can actually be separated from the main window. If you can find it you can drag it back onto the Explorer window. Or, you can try this: - Close the Explorer window and any editor windows - Right-click on the Macro Express icon in the system tray - Click Tools - Click Restore Toolbars

This issue has been assigned the tracking number [iSS7997]. If you provided a valid email address when you submitted your bug report you received an automated acknowledgement message. From your description this sounds like a difference, not necessarily a bug. We will investigate. If you want a back and forth conversation about this or any other issue, please contact Insight Software Support directly.

Macro Express Pro v 4.1.2.1 Macro Express Pro v 4.1.2.1 has been released. This update follows the recently released v 4.1.1.1 update. Due to a few problems that were not completely fixed in v 4.1.1.1 we did not make an announcement about that release. Those issues along with a few others have been corrected. This update includes a combined 55 changes. The more significant changes affect the speed of certain macro commands. For example, commands that interact with the clipboard are now faster and more reliable. The Release Notes for v 4.1.1.1 and v 4.1.2.1 contain a detailed list of changes. The latest version of Macro Express Pro may be downloaded from the Macro Express download page.

Microsoft defines a control this way: "A control is a child window an application uses in conjunction with another window to perform simple input and output (I/O) tasks. Controls are most often used within dialog boxes, but they can also be used in other windows. Controls within dialog boxes provide the user with the means to type text, choose options, and direct a dialog box to complete its action. Controls in other windows provide a variety of services, such as letting the user choose commands, view status, and view and edit text." Not every button, menu item or component on a program is actually a Control. Sometimes the only control in a given program is the window or dialog that pops up when the program starts. We have also noticed that many of Microsoft's programs seem to have fewer controls than programs from other manufacturers. How the controls work depends on the way the program you are trying to control works. In other words, a control is a piece of information embedded within an application. Macro Express communicates with controls via Windows. When the control changes, or if it is not there at all, Macro Express cannot communicate with it. This is entirely under the control of the application.

Please do not paste macros directly into the body of your posts. Use the Code tags instead. There is an icon above that shows the hint "Wrap in code tags" that will allow you to create a code box. Macros cannot be reliably copied from a post and pasted into a macro unless they are placed inside a code box.

A macro file always contains the file extension .mex but can have any name including the default name of 'macex.mex'. The original poster's question was asking if they can edit macex.mex using a text editor. The answer is No. You cannot edit any .mex file with a text editor. You can, however, edit a .mxe file with a text editor. A .mxe indicates the file is a playable macro.

A file containing a collection of macros has a file extension of .mex. A playable macro can be created that contains a single macro. When you click on a playable macro, that macro runs. A playable macro has the file extension .mxe. (A playable macro requires the Macro Express Player.)

Yes, that was the correct web page, thank you! This issue was assigned the tracking number [iSS7997].

You could either try using If Window commands inside your macro or try a Window Activated macro. The problem with the latter is that only one macro can run at a time in Macro Express 3. Macro Express Pro can run more than one macro at the same time.

No. A playable macro (a file that ends in .mxe) can be edited with a text editor as long as you follow the correct syntax but there isn't a document that describes the syntax. Instead, you have to observe it by comparing a macro written in the Script Editor in the Direct Editor.

Try the 'Open Folder' and 'Open Folder in Explorer' commands found in the 'Explorer' category of macro commands.

Since the variable you need to check is in T[9] use Cory's example and change the %T[1]% to %T[9]%. // Website is in T9 If Variable %T[9]% Contains "www" Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ARROW DOWN> Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <SHIFT><END> Clipboard Copy Delay: 250 milliseconds Variable Set String %T[9]% from the clipboard contents End If

It turns out to be more difficult than we expected. We are doing everything we can to fix the problems with the Variable Restore command. Just don't try it with the (released but not yet announced) Macro Express Pro v 4.1.1.1. We are working on another issue with Variable Restore.