Samrae

What you are seeing is normal. When Macro Express Pro is running with standard user permissions Windows does not allow mouse events (clicks and moves) from programs running with elevated permissions (admin). The Mouse Locator also stops working inside Task Manager. To resolve this close the Mouse Locator and Macro Express, run Macro Express Pro as Administrator and click to run Mouse Locator again.

Further, programs can be written to prevent mouse events from other programs (such as Macro Express Pro) regardless of there permissions levels. The information I received said that to determine if a program prevents these mouse events launch the Mouse Locator and see if it updates over that program. My testing with such a program confirmed this.

When I ran Macro Express as administrator and ran the Mouse Locator it updated the coordinates over the Disk Management, Computer Management and Task Manager programs. I did not, however, try it when Disk Management said "Connecting to Virtual Disk Service". Edit: I tried it and it worked.

Terry, have you tried it while running Macro Express Pro as Admin?

Here are some ideas I had:

1. See if using <ALTD> and <ALTU> instead of <ALT> works better.

2. Try slowing down the typing a bit. Maybe Acrobat or your computer are responding a little slowly.

Keystroke Speed: 1000 milliseconds
Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ALTD>v<ALTU>ma
Keystroke Speed: 1 milliseconds

(If this helps then adjust the 1000 milliseconds to something more reasonable that still works.)

3. To determine whether or not a macro is being activated you can, as rberg suggested, put a Text Box Display as the first line in the macro. Another idea is to put a Sound File command in the first line of the macro. Or, with v 4.7.0.1 and later you can use the "Play a sound when a macro runs" option found in the Preferences under Playback, Miscellaneous. This option will play a sound every time a macro is activated so you will want to turn it off after fixing your macro.

4. Try running Macro Express Pro as Administrator. Some programs do not allow macros to run unless Macro Express is running with Admin privileges.

5. Try turning Protected Mode off in Adobe Acrobat Reader:

• Open Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Click Edit, Preferences
• For Adobe Acrobat Reader DC or XI click Security (Enhanced)
• For Adobe Acrobat Reader X click General
• Click to uncheck the "Enable Protected mode at startup" setting
• Click the OK button to save
• Restart Adobe Acrobat Reader

Please let us know what, if anything, helped.

By the way, you should upgrade from v 3.5c to the latest version. At the time of this writing the latest version is v 3.10b. There have been hundreds of bug fixes, enhancements and security patches since v 3.5c. Your Macro Express 3 license will work with the latest version. The Revision History contains a complete list of changes.

There are several ways to save variable values for use in other macros. You can save to and restore from Environment variables, the Registry, an INI File and Text Files. You may also use the Variable Save and Variable Restore commands.

There is an example of saving a value between macros in the samples.mex sample macro file. This file should have been installed on your computer when you installed Macro Express. It may be in the c:\Program Files (x86)\Macro Express3 folder or it may be in your documents folder. Or you can download a copy from http://www.macros.com/samplemacros3.htm. (Do not try to use or edit the file in the Program Files (x86) folder. You should copy it to another location before using it. Windows prevents programs making changes to files in the Program Files (x86) folders.)

Once you find the samples.mex macro file look at the macro "Counter_From_Run_To_Run". This macro saves a value in the file TESTVAL.TXT located in your Windows Temp folder. It increments the value and saves it back out to TESTVAL.TXT. If you study this macro you can see how it is done.

For more detailed information about variables read the article How do Local and Global variables work and what is Variable Scope?

This article is written for Macro Express Pro and refers to variables like %Address% instead of something like %T1% but the concepts are the same for Macro Express 3. The section titled "Making information available to different macro threads" details the ways to save and load variables.

Rather than adding a Keystroke Speed command at the top of each macro you may want to adjust the Text Type Delay found in the Preferences under Delays.

If these don't work you could add a Delay command at the top of each macro.

What malware/anti-virus do you use? A few months ago Windows Defender was causing delays activating macros. Your symptoms are do not exactly match what you are describing but it Windows Defender (or other Internet Security software) can affect how macros work.

Macro Express Pro allows you to type Unicode characters using the Alt-Key Sequence. Does that help?

That message is a generic syntax error message displayed whenever Macro Express Pro does not recognize the input value as valid. It simply means you entered something invalid. If you intended to enter a variable then it is making suggestions about how to enter a variable.

The Mouse Speed command only accepts a whole integer value.

Is there another method to use that would detect the pop-up error window so I could just Macro Express keystrokes to skip/dismiss the pop-up any time it occurred?

Not with Macro Express 3. Perhaps with Macro Express Pro.

I'm only vaguely familiar with use of variables in Macro Express; cook-book stumbled through the process two times years ago.

Use of variables is key to powerful macros.

What variable goes in the T1 and how do I define it?

The variables T1 through T99 are string variables. The Repeat with Folder command will put the name of a file in T1 each time it loops. It will loop once for each file in the specified folder. If you have questions, try it.

Something like this may work.

Repeat with Folder
  If File Ready "%T1%"
    Move File or Files: "%T1%"
  End If
Repeat End

If File Ready
  Copy File or Files: AFile.avi
End If

If you show us how your macro moves files we can be more specific.

I'm not exactly sure what your macro logic is doing but it looks like the topmost repeat does not exit when you find one of the two active windows. Could it be that the Activate Window command is working but your macro does not stop?

I would write this a little differently. Here is your macro with some commands rearranged and the GoTo commands removed. (Lines with <-- are new):

Variable Set String %StopNow% to "FALSE" // <--
Repeat Start (Repeat %nb_de_comptes% times)
 
// Clic.
  Mouse Move: %N[1]%, %N[2]% Relative to Screen
  Mouse Left Click
   
  // Si demande pour rejoindre combat.
  Get Pixel Color at (%pos_interrogation_invitation[1]%, %pos_interrogation_invitation[2]%) Relative to Screen into %N[3]%
  If Variable %N[3]% Equals "%bleu_invitation%"
    Delay: %delay_joint_combat% milliseconds
  End If
   
  // Reset :
  Variable Set String %active_window% to ""
  Variable Set Integer %N[3]% to 0
  Variable Set Integer %N[4]% to 1
   
   
  Variable Set String %active_window% to "" // Initialize this variable in case the If commands below fail <--
  Repeat Start (Repeat %nb_de_comptes% times)
    Variable Modify Integer: %N[3]% = %N[3]% + 1
    Variable Modify Integer: %N[4]% = %N[4]% + 1
     
    If Window "%persos[%nb_de_comptes%]%" is focused
      Repeat Until %active_window% Equals "%persos[1]%"
        Window Activate: %persos[1]%
        Wait for Window Title: %persos[1]%
        Delay: 20 milliseconds // CPU.
        Variable Set String %active_window% to topmost window title
        Variable Set String %StopNow% to "TRUE" // <--
        Repeat Exit // <--
      End Repeat
    Else
      If Window "%persos[%N[3]%]%" is focused
        Repeat Until %active_window% Equals "%persos[%N[4]%]%"
          Window Activate: %persos[%N[4]%]%
          Delay: 20 milliseconds // CPU.
          Variable Set String %active_window% to topmost window title
          Variable Set String %StopNow% to "TRUE" // <--
          Repeat Exit // <--
        End Repeat
      End If
    End If
    Delay: 20 milliseconds // CPU.
     
    If Variable %StopNow% Equals "TRUE" // <--
      Repeat Exit // <--
    End If // <--
  End Repeat
   
  :Ok.
  Delay: 180 milliseconds // délai supplémentaire de sécurité.
  If Variable %delay_chg_perso% Equals "1" // Si l'option est activée.
  Delay: %random_delai% milliseconds
  End If
   
  If Variable %StopNow% Equals "TRUE" // <--
    Repeat Exit // <--
  End If // <--
End Repeat

Okay, thanks.

I guess everyone has different techniques to write macros. You and Cory are correct, there are some commands that do not prompt to create a variable. However, I have found that it is rare (never?) that I use a variable in a macro without having used at lease one of the macro commands that does prompt to create a variable.

But, here is an idea that may help ikodan. It is a solution to only half of the problem but maybe the second part can be accomplished via a macro to define variables in a macro.

When you export a macro as a Playable macro it is saved to a file with a file extension of .mxe. The content of this file, however, is in ASCII text format and can be edited with notepad or another text editor. All of the variables are listed at the top of the .mxe file. Here is an example:

<<Macro Express 4 Playable Macro>>
[string:%T% elements:99 global:true]
[integer:%N% elements:99 global:true]
[float:%D% elements:99 global:true]
[control:%C% elements:99 global:true]
[string:%IP_Address% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%ConsoleID% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%ProgramVersionNumber% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%TAB2% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%TAB3% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%TAB% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%TAB4% elements:0 global:true]
[integer:%MaxCPUs% elements:0 global:true]
[integer:%Idx% elements:0 global:true]
[integer:%CPU Idx% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%CPU Identifier% elements:50 global:true]
[string:%CPU ProcessorNameString% elements:50 global:true]
[string:%CPU VendorIdentifier% elements:50 global:true]
[integer:%CPU Counter% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%WindowsStr% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%WindowsSP% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%CR% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%LF% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%TAB5% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%MacroName% elements:0 global:true]
[string:%sTemp% elements:0 global:true]
<<BEGIN SCRIPT>>

Check out the "If File Ready" and "Wait for File Ready" commands. These commands determine if an application has finished writing to a file.

Samrae: Not for TBD commands though?

What are TBD commands?

 

I don't find a way to copy all my variables from this macro :

Are you trying to copy the variable definitions or the contents of the variables?

I never worry about copying the variable definitions. They are automatically created by prompts when I use a variable in a command.

My first thought would be to put the names of the macros in a string array variable and then create an integer array variable of the same size with random numbers in it. Loop from the beginning to the end of the integer array and grab the integer value and use it as an index into the string array.

This doesn't do everything you specify but it may get you started and you could adjust as needed.

Variable Set Integer %ArrayElements% to 40
Variable Set String %MacroArray% to ""
 
Variable Set String %MacroArray[1]% to "MacroName1"
Variable Set String %MacroArray[2]% to "MacroName2"
Variable Set String %MacroArray[3]% to "MacroName3"
//               .
//               .
//               .
Variable Set String %MacroArray[40]% to "MacroName40"

Repeat Start (Repeat %ArrayElements% times)
  Variable Set Integer %IdxArray[1]% to 0
  Variable Set Integer %IdxArray[%Idx%]% to a random value between 1 and %ArrayElements%
End Repeat
 
Repeat Start (Repeat %ArrayElements% times)
  Macro Run: %MacroArray[%Idx%]%
End Repeat

You could also put the names of the macros in a file and use something like the Text File Begin/End Process commands to load them into the MacroArray variable.

Others can better help you if you post your macro in a form that can be copied (as you did) and in a form that can be read, like this:

// Accepte l'invitation.
Variable Set Integer %N[1]% to %bleu_invitation%
Repeat Until %N[1]% Does not Equal "%bleu_invitation%"
  Mouse Move: %pos_accepter_invitation[1]%, %pos_accepter_invitation[2]% Relative to Screen
  Mouse Left Click
   
  Text Box Display: débug :
   
  Delay: 500 seconds
  Mouse Move: 0, 0 Relative to Screen
  Delay: 500 milliseconds
  Get Pixel Color at (%pos_inte_invitation[1]%, %pos_inte_invitation[2]%) Relative to Screen into %N[1]%
   
  Text Box Display: débug :
   
  // Calibrage debug.
  Variable Set Decimal %bug_zone% to 1.7
  Macro Run: - CALIBRAGE # - auto-debug.
End Repeat
Variable Set Decimal %bug_counter% to 0

You can copy your macro in a readable format by highlighting the macro commands, right-clicking your mouse and choosing "Copy Command Text".

Looking at your macro in a format that we can read it shows that you have a delay of 500 seconds. That is more than 8 minutes.

Macro Express cannot "see" Acrobat Reader DC, at least not Version XI. So MEP macros cannot touch it. DC XI is not accessible by keyboard, not even many of its menu items. The lack of keyboard access is symptomatic of the problem.

Does running Macro Express As Administrator help?

In my experience some programs have consistent Window Controls. Others, however, create a new Window Control every time the program runs. I happen to have macros that interact with a program somewhere in the middle. Most of the time the Window Control is consistent but sometimes it changes.

To get around this, when my macro interacting with this program has a problem with the Window Control I add the new Window Control to my macro. It looks like this:

Get Control: (CLIENT.EXE) Using z-order -> %Description% // Description box  6-13-12
If Control "%Description%" Does Not Exist
  Get Control: (CLIENT.EXE) Using z-order -> %Description% // Description box
End If
If Control "%Description%" Does Not Exist
  Get Control: (CLIENT.EXE) Using z-order -> %Description% // Description box  7-8-11
End If

Fortunately, there seems to be a limited number of Window Controls for this element. So a check for three different Window Controls works.

I do not know whether any specific one of the different ways of identifying a Window Control is more or less reliable. I usually try the default (z-order) value first. If that does not work I will try the next (contents) and if that doesn't work then the last choice (coordinates).

The Capture Control command requires that you know the X/Y position of an element but the Window Control for that element works correctly until the program is restarted.

Does it help to run Macro Express Pro as Administrator?

pepanee, This article describes How to Run Macro Express as Administrator when Windows Starts. If you are able to find a different way to launch Macro Express Pro as administrator I would like to hear about it.

Macro Express can assign any icon (.ico) file to a macro. As Cory points out, there are numerous icons available on the web that are free for both personal or commercial use. I have many icons in my Macro Express Pro icon folder at c:\Program Files (x86)\Macro Express Pro\Icons.

Instead of doing this at the end of the macro I would do it using two macros.

Create your main macro. Let's call it MainMacro.

Create a second macro that looks like this:

Variable Set String %T1% "Yes"
Repeat Until %T1% <> "Yes"
  Macro Run: MainMacro
  
  // Ask the user if they want to continue
  Variable Set String %T1% from Prompt
Repeat End

I did not test this sample. You may need to adjust it but this should get you started.