Macros palette

The macros palette is brought up using the option on the Volumes Menu. In its compressed form it appears as follows:

Clicking the grow box in the bottom left, or selecting the ‘Macros palette’ option on the Volumes menu with the or <Alt> key held down brings up the expanded version:

In either case, hold down both the <Command> and <Control> keys to drag the bar around the screen (Macintosh only). Click the close box in the top left of the palette to put it away.

To run a macro, press the [Play] button on the palette. The macro that will be run is known as the “current macro” and its macro Code will be shown in the bottom left-hand corner of the compressed palette, or highlighted in the expanded palette. If you are using the expanded version of the palette, you can also double-click on an item to run it.

If you have just created or edited a macro, that will be the current macro. Otherwise, you should perform a search using the [Search] button in the upper left of the palette. If a single macro is found as a result of the search, it will become the current macro and its macro Code will be shown on the palette. If the search finds more than one macro, a small pop-up will appear, from which you can make a selection by clicking.

If you do not have the macros palette open, a quick way of selecting a current macro and running it is to press <Command-Shift-M> (Macintosh) or (Windows). This single keystroke is all that is required to bring up a search dialogue and, once you have selected a macro, to run that macro.

Whether you use the [Search] button on the palette or the keystroke method, the macro search works in the fashion of all Enterprise 6 queries, with Quick Search and More Choices windows.

In addition to these dialogue boxes the search is controlled by the setting of the ‘Same Process’/‘New Process’ radio buttons (on the expanded palette) or pop-up (on the compressed palette). For example, if ‘Same Process’ is selected, only ‘Same Process’ macros will be found. The search will be independent of the setting of the File pop-up menu.

To delete a macro, click [-] in the upper left of the macros palette.

Two methods are available to create macros.

The first is to use the [Record] button on the palette. Each mouse click and keystroke will then be recorded until the [Stop] button is pressed, thus enabling you to record and automate a particular task. If a current macro has been selected prior to the pressing of [Record], you will be asked, ‘Do you want to re-Record ‘Macro x’ or to start a new macro?’ (where ‘x’ is the macro Code of the current macro).

If you prefer to write macros rather than record them (in certain circumstances this is more practical), click [+] in the upper left of the macros palette and an entry screen will appear. This screen is described in detail.

Click [√] in the buttons palette to save the macro or [X] to cancel.

Whichever method is used, a new macro will be created and saved with the macro Code of ‘Untitled001’ (or with a later number as the suffix if a macro with that Code already exists). You should then overwrite this Code with a more informative description. The new macro will become the current macro. The [+] and [-] buttons will be disabled if you have Read Only Access to macros.

The current macro can be edited by clicking the [Edit] button in the palette.

The text of the current macro will be shown in the macro entry window (this window is described later in the chapter). If you use the [Record] button to create new macros, it is strongly recommended that you press [Edit] immediately after you have stopped recording. This will enable you to change the macro Code of the new macro from ‘Untitled’ to something more useful.

Click [√] to save changes, [X] to cancel.

An alternative method of editing macros is available on the Core menu in the Data Manager. Selecting the ‘Macros’ item on this menu brings up a list of all macros available. By double-clicking on one you can edit it without making it the current macro.

[Record]

The [Record] button can be clicked at any time in any place, allowing you to Record a sequence of mouse clicks and keystrokes either from within an already open process window, or from the main menus. There is a single exception - you cannot record while a macro is being played. In this situation, the [Record] button is greyed. A new macro is created and saved with the macro Code of “Untitled001” (or with a later number as the suffix if a macro with that Code already exists). If you are using the compressed palette, this code is displayed, showing that this is now the current macro. If you using the expanded palette, the new macro will be added to the list, highlighted to show it is the current macro. Unlike other Enterprise 6 buttons, the [Record] button remains depressed while recording is under way so that you can be reminded at a glance that it is happening. Assuming that you haven’t switched on the ‘Don’t Play Volume Notes’ Preference, a ‘button’ sound will be heard, further confirming its pressing. While Recording is taking place, Enterprise 6 is constantly running a background process that records every keystroke and mouse click, and converts everything to the macro Language in real time. Consequently, you may well notice, especially on machines with slower processors, that operations are rather slower than normal. This button will be disabled if you have Read Only Access to macros.

[Stop]

Use the [Stop] button at any time to Stop either the Recording or the Playing of a macro. Stopping a Playback can be very useful, if timed accurately. A complex macro might begin by carrying out a task that you want, but might then diverge from your present intentions. For example, a macro might ‘List Companies’, select some, sort them, accept the list, then choose a different listing option than the one you want. Interrupt the macro as it accepts the list and choose the listing option you require. Note that the [Stop] button will have no effect when Playing a ‘Same Process’ macro (see below).

[Pause]

The [Pause] button can be used at any time to Pause either the Recording or the Playing of a macro. It stays depressed (if there is something to Pause) until you either press it again to ‘release’ the Pause, or you press the [Stop] button. It can be very useful, if timed accurately, to, for example, make some changes to More Choices Find windows that have already been partially filled in by a macro, before allowing the rest of the macro to continue with the search. Automated Pauses can also be placed within a macro Text, which means that when they are Played, the Pause button will automatically be depressed, awaiting a user action. When he or she is ready, the user would then release the Pause to continue with the macro. If the macros palette is not on screen at this point, it will appear automatically. Note that the [Pause] button will have no effect when Playing a ‘Same Process’ macro (see below).

[Play]

The [Play] button plays back the current macro. The [Record] and [Edit] buttons are greyed during Playback, while the [Play] button remains depressed. The [Play] button will most often be used while testing recorded macros. It is certainly possible to use it in normal Enterprise 6 use - particularly when making repeated use of a macro - but there are also other methods by which macros can be played, which can be used whether or not the macros palette is visible. If it is, the [Play] button will automatically be depressed when using one of these methods. First, one can allocate one of the keyboard’s Function keys to a particular macro, and that macro will then be played whenever that Function key is pressed. Secondly, one can type <Command-Shift-M> (Macintosh) or (Windows) to manually select the macro to be Played via a Find window. Finally, macros can be set to play automatically on starting Enterprise 6. These are known as Startup macros.

[Edit]

Use the [Edit] button to view and/or change the text of the current macro. The [Edit] button remains depressed while the macro entry screen window is open. The entry window can be closed using the [√] and [X] buttons on the buttons palette, and also by clicking the depressed [Edit] button. This latter action will save changes. See below for a full description of the macro entry window. This button will be disabled if you have Read Only Access to macros.