Macro Express Overview

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	WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "Your Macro Express product is fantastic. It has helped me to recover from severe neck and shoulder pain caused by keyboard and mouse repetitive motion." Miguel G., California

Overview

Creating a Macro

A macro is a script containing commands that automate computer tasks. Each command performs one step, such as moving the mouse, launching a program or entering keystrokes. Macro Express does not require that you know any programming language or have any programming skills.

Macro Express provides several ways to build a macro:

Over two dozen Quick Wizards guide you through a series of questions and build the macro for you.
To record a macro, you start the Capture, enter your keystrokes and mouse movements, and then stop the Capture process.
Utilize the easy to use Scripting Editor or Direct Editor to write more powerful macros.

Playing back a Macro

Macro Express offers several methods for executing macros. These include the use of Hot Keys, Shortkeys, Timed Macros, Window Activation, Mouse Clicks, Popup/Floating Menus and others.

A Hot Key is a set of keys on the keyboard that are pressed to initiate the macro. This could include pressing CTRL+ALT+R, F3, Shift+F12 or over 700 other combinations.
A Shortkey is a small string of characters, such as abc, tr, or zzz. When a matching combination is keyed in from the keyboard, it is erased and the assigned macro executes.
A Scheduled Macro executes on a given time schedule.
A Window Activated macro runs when a specific window gains focus (appears) on your computer.
A Control Activated macro runs when a specific window control gains focus or is on top. Controls refer to the identifiable parts of a specific application window. Controls may include such things as a button, an edit box, a toolbar, a window title bar or other items.
Click on a specific area of the screen with the left, right or middle Mouse button to trigger a macro.
A Popup Menu or Floating Menu is basically a list or menu of defined macros. Once the menu is displayed, click on the desired macro or press an associated number or letter to execute the macro.
A macro can be activated through a Batch File or Command Line.
Macros may also be activated through Windows API calls or Windows Explorer.
Run a macro from the Macro Explorer by using the Run Macro Now option.

Restricting Playback

You can restrict when a macro activation will begin playing a macro by setting the macro scope properties. You can assign macros to play back in all Windows programs (Global), in one specific window (Window Specific) or program (Program Specific), or in every program except the one you define (Global Except).

Program Components

Macro Express consists of two main components, the Macro Express Player and the Macro Express Editor. The Player executes the macros and must be running for macros to play back. The Editor is the tool used to create and modify macros. The program was written this way to conserve system resources. When not editing or building macros, close the Editor so that it will not be using system resources.

By default, the Macro Express Player shows up as an icon in the system tray. From this icon you can invoke the Macro Express Editor or shut down Macro Express. You can optionally set the Macro Express Player to be completely hidden so that no icon shows in the system tray.

Macro Files

Macro Express allows you to create multiple files of macros. When first installing the program, two macro files, samples.mex and macex.mex, are also installed. The samples.mex file contains a number of sample macros that you can look at or use for reference. The other file, macex.mex, is where you can save macros that you create. Or you can create a new macro file for this purpose.