File size

[cmharrington]

I have a macro file that had 1500 macros in it. I deleted 200 of those macros, emptied the recycle bin, but noticed that the file size did not seem to change (7.5 MB). That got me curious so I imported all 1300 remaining macros into a new file, and the file size went to 4.0 MB. Is there someting I'm missing? Maybe a way to compact the file?

 

Thanks for the help.

[terrypin]

I have a macro file that had 1500 macros in it. I deleted 200 of those macros, emptied the recycle bin, but noticed that the file size did not seem to change (7.5 MB). That got me curious so I imported all 1300 remaining macros into a new file, and the file size went to 4.0 MB. Is there someting I'm missing? Maybe a way to compact the file?

 

Thanks for the help.

 

Interesting. I can confirm that emptying a (large) recycle bin just now, and unloading ME Pro, didn't change the size of my 5 MB MEX file by a single byte.

 

And deleting around a thousand macros, leaving just one, gave me a file a mere 6 KB smaller!

 

I'd never focused on this before, but I see this from Help:

 

Pack

Saving macros and deleting macros from a macro file creates holes in the macro file structure or causes it to become fragmented. The Pack command compresses the file and fills in the holes created by the changes to the file. This is similar to performing a defrag on a hard drive, only it will take less time.

 

Using it with Tools > Pack reduced my file to 2.4 MB.

 

I'd be interested to hear from ISS why ME Pro doesn't do this obvious house-keeping automatically?

 

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[kevin]

For performance reasons, deleted macros leave an 'empty' space in the macro file. The Tools, Pack function will compress the macro file and remove the empty spaces.

[Cory]

I hear what Terry is saying. Especially for newbs. Might be nice is MEP assessed the ratio of empty spaces every once in awhile and popped up a message saying "Duuuude, your file is huge! Wanna pack it?" Also might be cool if it was an option in the backup command.

[Jeff Cleveland]

I asked for an automated Pack function a long time ago. ISS replied that it would look at it when time is available. Probably very low priority.

 

Jeff

[terrypin]

I asked for an automated Pack function a long time ago. ISS replied that it would look at it when time is available. Probably very low priority.

 

Jeff

 

I've written a simple macro to pack the current file every time I open ME Pro Explorer.

 

Delay: 100 milliseconds
Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ALT>t // Opens Tools menu.
Delay: 100 milliseconds
Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): pc // Packs the current file.
Delay: 500 milliseconds

 

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Pack.mex

[Jeff Cleveland]

Terry,

 

Do you see any speed penalty for Packing every time?

 

It would also be nice if the Pack window would indicate when the Pack is complete. I have asked for this as well.

 

Thanks for your reply.

 

Jeff

[terrypin]

Terry,

 

Do you see any speed penalty for Packing every time?

 

It would also be nice if the Pack window would indicate when the Pack is complete. I have asked for this as well.

 

Thanks for your reply.

 

Jeff

 

I haven't noticed any difference in speed Jeff. But it's nice to know that the file is now getting smaller when I delete stuff!

 

 

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK