Jeff Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 Has anyone ever experimented with structured programming methods? Before I retired, I began creating extremely complex macros using structured programming to create what can be thought of as subroutines with repeatable calls and returns dependent on the values of certain variables to control the logical flow. It brought Macro Express programming up to the level of the more advanced languages. I highly recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 If you mean using generic macros as functions or subroutines, of course I have. I try not to write any code twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rberq Posted June 28, 2020 Report Share Posted June 28, 2020 19 hours ago, Jeff said: It brought Macro Express programming up to the level of the more advanced languages Yes and no. Lots of nice features in ME that make it easy to do stuff beyond keyboard and mouse functions. For simple jobs it's quick and easy, but then one can get sucked in to using it beyond where its strengths are. As a high-level language, the fact that you have to define your own inter-module structure means my techniques will probably differ a lot from yours. Like the days when every bicycle mechanic became his own automobile manufacturer -- eventually Henry Ford had a better idea. ME works nicely as one tool in the box but doesn't replace the whole box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrypin Posted June 29, 2020 Report Share Posted June 29, 2020 I’m not sure exactly what you mean by structured programming? If not simply using ‘sub macros’ widely, as I expect most experienced users do, then could you give an example please? One downside in MX Pro is managing variables reliably across the constituent sub macros. I’m not a programmer but I assume that’s not an issue with modern programming languages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cory Posted July 10, 2020 Report Share Posted July 10, 2020 I learned some programming back in the 80's but lost it as I entered my career as a mechanical product designer. Many years ago I got into using MEP and it was an easy way to get into some automation. I started getting a lot of work making huge macros doing some real heavy lifting. But keeping them running and dealing with timing and other issues became a nightmare. I looked online to see how others did it and started writing simple helper scripts in VBScript and then I realized I really just needed to get back into proper programming. Let me tell you... Once I learned VB.NET and made my first simple scraper I slapped myself around for a week. It was so much simpler and many orders of magnitude faster and robust. I think many people are like me and use MEP for simple user one-off operations, then start trying to do really big things with it. This is a mistake. At this point one needs to learn a proper programming language and there are so many easy ones out there. .NET is astronomically more capable than MEP. Really wanting MEP to be more like a proper programming language is wrong. If you need that, then go on to an extant programming language. It's easier than you think. MEP should stay like it is and it's functions should only be for the user efficiency macros. E.G. I don't want to ever see MEP get database commands. It's a brilliant program and I'd rather it stay simple and useful for non-programmers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rberq Posted July 11, 2020 Report Share Posted July 11, 2020 42 minutes ago, Cory said: I think many people are like me and use MEP for simple user one-off operations, then start trying to do really big things with it. Yes! Although I admit to getting sucked into doing too-big things with it myself. 🙄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotterHarry Posted January 12, 2021 Report Share Posted January 12, 2021 Hope Jeff won't mind me hijacking his thread, but it is kind of relevant ..what programming language is Macro Express under the hood? Is that a daft question. I wouldn't be surprised...!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samrae Posted January 12, 2021 Report Share Posted January 12, 2021 Macro Express is written in Delphi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotterHarry Posted January 12, 2021 Report Share Posted January 12, 2021 Thanks Samrae... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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