kevin

Macro Express v 3.5c has been released. Changes include: Added the ability in the Sound Wave macro command to play sounds assigned to system events. Added the keypad decimal key as a hotkey. The macro is now aborted when an FTP command times out. A macro can now be aborted during an FTP file transfer. Improved the Get File Version command so that it handles different code pages better. Added 'No Path FTP Get' advanced option to prevent the path from being prepended during an FTP Get command. Now includes an updated and improved library of sample macros (samples.mex) that demonstrate macro techniques. Download it here http://www.macros.com/download.htm. View a complete list of changes here http://www.macros.com/rev3_5c.htm.

Hi Scott, One of my gripes is that broadband is 'always on'. Yes, it is convenient to not have to wait for a connection when I load a browser or my email client but an always on connection is more vulnerable to outside attacks. (I have firewalls to help with this.) My DSL modem is external to my computer so there is no way for a macro to toggle it online or offline. However, some cable and DSL modems are installed right in your computer. The computers I have seen with internal modems have a software program that allows you to, among other things, toggle the connection. If this is the case for you, perhaps you could write a macro to do this. If your modem control software has an icon in the system tray, you could use the 'Move Mouse to Tray Icon' command to access the on/off or toggle option. The 'If Online' command actually does a 'ping' to one or more specific servers to determine if the internet connection is up. So it should be able to determine if your broadband connection is up. If not, however, you could use the 'Ping Site' command to have your macro determine if you are online.

Your suggestion is noted and is being considered for a future release of Macro Express. Note that Feature Requests can be made directly to Insight Software Solutions from the http://www.macros.com/requestfeature.htm web page. We again thank Professional Grade Macros for hosting the Macro Express discussion forum. For now, I suggest you try using environment variables. Environment variables are discussed in the Macro Express help under the topics Modify String Variables and Set String Variables. They are also described on pages 185 and 228-229 in the book Macro Express Explained. Once set, an environment variable can be used anywhere a string variable (%T1%) can be used. There are several environment variables set automatically by Windows. For example, suppose you want to know where the TEMP folder is on your computer. Simply use %TEMP% in any macro command. Environment variables can be as long or as short as you like. However, Windows imposes a limit. In Windows ME, 98 and 95 there is a default limit of 4,096 bytes (this limit can be increased). In Windows XP, 2000 and NT there is a limit of 32,768 bytes. The number of bytes includes the names and content of all environment variables. And, as noted, Windows automatically creates some environment variables. Set an environment variable this way: Variable Set String %T1%"Insight Software Solutions" Variable Modify String: Save %T1% to Environment Variable Assuming the Environment Variable you used is named 'Company Name' you could then include %CompanyName% in your macro: Text Type: %CompanyName%

Greg, I looked over the settings for an FTP client that I use. There are no settings specific for use in a proxy server. I have used this FTP client for many years and on a variety of different networks. Two of the networks used a proxy. If I recall correctly, on one network I had to change the port from 21 to something else (the proxy server documentation helped). On the other network, I had to configure it to allow port 21 through. A quick search on the web turned up this: The 'FTP Site Connect' command allows you to enter something different from the default port 21. The documentation for your proxy server should be able to tell you which port to use.

In the current version of Macro Express there is not a way to specify an exact window title in a Window Activated macro. However, you can place 'If Window Title' and/or 'Activate Window' commands inside your macro to either ensure that the macro only affects the appropriate window. Make sure that you activate the window title (something like 'Eudora - ['), not the program name (eudora.exe).

Perhaps your comment: provides a clue. The Mouse Move Relative to Window commands are relative to the entire window, including the title bar at the top. Most times when I have worked with a program where the entire window was a control, the control did not include the title bar. Could this be what is happening with the application you are working with?

Yes. Try this: Variable Set Integer %N1% with a Random Number Delay %N1% Seconds You may be able to read numbers from a website by highlighting the portion of the web page containing the numbers and copying the highlighted text into the clipboard. To copy a number from a file try this: Variable Set String %T1% from File: "test.txt" Variable Modify String: Convert %T1% to integer %N1%

Have you tried either the 'If File Ready' or 'Wait File Ready' command? This command determines if another process has the file open. A file is opened when a program is writing to it.

While we at Insight Software Solutions may read and reply to issues disucussed in this forum, we do not guarantee that we will read and answer all issues posted here. We thank Professional Grade Macros for hosting this forum on behalf of Macro Express users. This issue has been submitted to our bug tracking system at http://www.macros.com/bugreport.htm. However, as stated on the Report a Bug web page, "You will not receive a personal email response unless we need more information." To receive a prompt personal reply from Insight Software Solutions, send your question to info@wintools.com. This problem has been fixed and is awaiting internal testing. It was originally entered into our tracking system on 17 Aug 2004. The next release of Macro Express will include this fix. The date of the next release has not been set.

You probably need to add a small amount of delay after the mouse click. This worked for me on a variety of programs: Move Mouse to Tray Icon: "Volume" Mouse Right Button Click Delay 0.1 Seconds Text Type: a You may need to adjust the amount of delay depending on your system. During my testing, one of the programs required a delay of 0.75 seconds. Note: This technique will not work on the Macro Express icon in the system tray. When a macro is running the icon is changed to a running man and clicking on the icon causes the macro to be aborted. Nor will this technique will work on a Macro Express popup menu macro in the system tray. Macro Express 3 only runs one macro at a time. If a macro is running, you cannot launch a popup menu macro.

Use the Get Pixel Color command to look for a change on the screen. Since you are writing to a file you may also be able to use the 'Wait File Exists', 'Wait File Ready', If File Exists' or 'If File Ready' commands.

Double check the SMTP settings. In email clients, incoming email uses a POP3 server. Outgoing mail uses an SMTP server. Macro Express does not read incoming mail. Therefore it supports only the SMTP services. One frequent mistake in configuring the Macro Express E-Mail preferences is to enter the information for the POP3 server instead of the SMTP server. It is usually necessary to enter a name and a password to authenticate the POP3 connection. However, depending on your ISP, it is often unnecessary to enter a name and password to authenticate the SMTP server. For example, in MS Outlook, it shows ‘User Information’, ‘Server Information’ and ‘Login Informaion’. However, the Login Information only applies to the POP3 server. When you click on the ‘More Settings’ button and then on the ‘Outgoing Server’ tab, you are given the opportunity to enter the settings for you ‘outgoing server (SMTP)’. What all this means is that you may not need to put a checkmark in the Macro Express preference ‘Server requires authentication’. Another thing to note: Some ISPs have configured their SMTP servers to not accept outgoing mail unless a check for incoming mail is done first. If this is the case, you will need to work with your ISP to find a configuration that will work.

From the Macro Express Knowledgebase http://www.macros.com/kb.htm: Many scheduled macros do not work properly when the screen saver or power management features have been activated. To prevent problems, by default, Macro Express disables your screen saver or power management features if you have a Scheduled macro in your macro file. In most cases you should be able to get a Scheduled macro to work properly with the screen saver or power management features enabled by modifiying the macro. For example, you may need to send a keystroke and then delay to allow your desktop to be restored. To enable your screen saver or power management features when using a Scheduled macro, load the Macro Express Editor and click on Options | Preferences | Scheduler. Uncheck the box next to "Disable Screen Saver when using Scheduled Macros". - Updated: May 27, 2004

So you could program the keypad to do something like Win+Alt+Ctrl+D and then create a macro in Macro Express that runs when Win+Alt+Ctrl+D is pressed. The key on the X-keys keypad could then accomplish anything you need.

What is an X-Keys keypad? Can you program the keypad to duplicate a hotkey that Macro Express will recognize?

I once created a pair of 'popup menu' macros, each with a different icon and placed them in the System Tray. Other macros enabled one of the macros at a time. This gave me an indication in the system tray when specific things were enabled or disabled. You could use this technique by enabling and disabling two (or more) macros at a time. I know this does not display the status "in the application" but it worked for me. Here is a refinement of this idea: Create two popup menu macros and set the 'Icons Only' option property dialog. Adjust the X, Y coordinates to position the popup menu where you want it. Make sure each popup menu has a unique icon. Then, enable and disable the icons as needed. I have not tested this second approach but it seems like it should work.

Date and Time stamp 'math' is available in the PGM Functions Library written by Joe Weinpert and Paul Thornett of Professional Grade Macros. Through a marketing agreement you can purchase the PGM Functions Library from Insight Software Solutions (the makers of Macro Express). The PGM Functions Library is available for a 30-day trial so you can see if it will do what you need. For a small cost you can access over 100 functions in your macros. It is well worth the money in time savings alone. For more information visit: www.macros.com/products.htm or www.pgmacros.com/pgm_functions.htm. Note that Professional Grade Macros is the host of this Discussion Forum.

Lars, There is no way that I am aware of. However, this is a change we are working on for a future version of Macro Express.

TweakMe3 is a playable macro that makes changes to the area of the registry where the Macro Express preferences are saved. Macro Express includes several commands that allow you to write to the registry such as "Write Registry Decimal", "Write Registry Integer" and "Write Registry String". You could write a macro, or modify an existing one, to set the Macro Priority. Some organizations with networks have a shared macro library. That would be an easy way to distribute a macro that adjusts the Macro Priority. To see which registry key and value contain the setting for Macro Priority, I recommend that you download TweakMe3 from www.macros.com/downmore.htm and import it into the macro library on your test or adminstrative computer. Then you can examine it to see how it works. You could even copy certain portions and paste them into a macro that you distribute to the computers on your network.

You are correct, Macro Express does not have any commands to do this directly. However, you can write some macros that will accomplish the task. On the 'remote' computer, create a Scheduled Macro that looks for the existence of specific 'trigger' files. Then, when the files are found, run the appropriate macro. On the 'local' computer, create one or more macros that map a network drive and create a 'trigger' file on the 'remote' computer. Set the schedule of the macro on the remote computer for the frequency you want to check. You could check as often as every second but the more often you check the more CPU cycles you will use. Here is a untested example: Macro for the remote computer: // Macro for 'Remote' computer // Check for trigger file for MacroOne If File Exists "MacroOne" Macro Run: MacroOne // Delete the file that triggered this macro Wait for File Ready: "MacroOne" Delete File or Files: "MacroOne" End If // Check for trigger file for MacroTwo If File Exists "MacroTwo" Macro Run: MacroTwo // Delete the file that triggered this macro Wait for File Ready: "MacroTwo" Delete File or Files: "MacroTwo" End If Macro for the 'local' computer: // Macro for 'Local' computer to trigger MacroOne on remote computer // Establish a network connection Variable Set String %T1% "AnyValue" Network Connect: H: to \\IssServer\c // Set the path in the Variable Modify String command to match the folder // and filename the macro on the remote computer is looking for. Variable Modify String: Save %T1% to Text File

The example referred to is an example of how to run an executable file from javascript. The Macro Express help gives examples of how to run a macro via a call to the Macro Express player. Try putting one of these in the javascript example for the application: macexp.exe /ANameOfMacroToRun or meproc.exe /ANameOfMacroToRun Calling meproc.exe is a little faster if Macro Express is already loaded. You may need to include the path to the executable program: "c:\Program Files\Macro Express3\meproc.exe /ANameOfMacroToRun" Another option is to create a playable macro and have the javascript 'run' it. If, for example, your playable macro is named MacroToRun.mxe, then put 'MacroToRun.mxe' where the sample javascript expects the application executable.

Try a Wait for Web Page command with the url blank. This will cause the macro to wait until IE is no loner busy. Any page that comes up will allow the macro to continue.

To stop a macro via the keyboard you can press the 'Abort Macro HotKey'. By default this is set to 'Scroll Lock+Pause' but you can select from a few other key combinations in Options, Preferences, Playback.

The PIL message means that the name and code used to license Macro Express is stolen or fraudulent. To correct this, you must purchase a license.

Laurence, How the component reacts depends on how the application was written. Have you tried manually clicking in the field to see what highlights all the text within it? Some applications may highlight the text with a single mouse click, others may require a double click and still others may require some other action. Once you determine what action workds you can write a macro to automate the process.