The macros folder has been updated to include several new files not mentioned in the ProTERM manual. The structure of the folder has changed as well. Instead of a single "Resident Macros" file as mentioned in the manual, the resident macros have been partitioned into several different files.
Since the macros are a very dynamic aspect of ProTERM, much of the macro documentation is now included in electronic form as part of ProTERM. Choose DIRC Reference from the Help sub-menu in order to view the macro documentation.
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** Partitioned Resident Macros **
The Resident Macros file has been divided into several different files. The main file is still called Resident Macros and contains an assortment of startup, library and keyboard macros. The Resident User file contains additional macros and is designated as a "user modifiable" file. In prior versions, if an updated version of Resident Macros was released, it could be difficult to find all your changes to the old version and move them to the new one. The Resident User file is not updated over time like Resident Macros. Therefore, changes made to Resident User are not in danger to being replaced by a new version of the file.
The new Resident Macros format allows you to create your own personal resident macro files. The Extras folder contains a file called Resident User Empty. You can copy this file to the Macros folder and rename it so that it starts out as "Resident User " (the remainder of the filename can be whatever you want). You can customize the resulting file in the same way you would the Resident User 1 file. Since the file is self-contained, you can share it with other users who need only place it in their own Macros folder to make use of it.
* Startup Macro *
Startup Macro is the first macro file which is executed by ProTERM during appication startup. You should not change the preference which makes Startup Macro the first macro executed (unless you have a specific reason to do so). When the Startup Macro file executes, it executes all other files in the Macros folder which start with the prefix "Startup" or "Resident". Files prefixed with "Startup" are executed before those prefixed with "Resident". In this way, you add and remove macros by adding and removing files to the Macros folder.
* Startup Rebuild *
The Startup Rebuild file adds a command called "Rebuild Menu" to the Connect menu. This command is useful for bringing the Connect menu up to date if you use the Finder to change the contents of the Services folder while ProTERM is running. If you move the Startup Rebuild file out of the Macros folder, then the Rebuild Menu item will disapear from the Connect menu the next time you startup ProTERM.
* Resident Library *
The Resident Libray file is a collection of useful macros which automatically get loaded and are available for use by other macros. Updated versions of this file may be distributed periodically, so you should avoid making changes to it. You can add your own library routines to the Resident User file.
* Resident Macros *
The Resident Macros file contains quite a bit of "macro glue" to make ProTERM operate smoothly. New DIRC functions are often implemented as macro code within this file. You should avoid changing this file since updated versions may be distributed periodically.
* Resident User *
The Resident User file is a file which is meant to personalized. Unlike Resident Library and Resident Macros, this file is rarely (if ever) updated. As a result, you can make changes within this file, and those changes will still work if you get an updated version of the Resident Macros or Resident Library file.
** AutoTime **
The AutoTime macro file is both an example of a stand-along macro as well as a useful utility. The AutoTime macro uses your modem to call a time server (a computer connected to a very precise clock) and adjusts your system clock. To use AutoTime, choose the Exec command from the File menu, select AutoTime within the Macros folder and follow the instructions.
For AutoTime to work correctly, you must use the Map control panel to set your Macintosh location and time zone. To do this, choose Control Panels from the Apple menu, double-click on the Map control panel, set your location on the map, and click the Set button. This allows ProTERM to determine the time zone difference between the location of your Macintosh and GMT (Greenwich mean time).
NOTE: Some modems have difficulty connecting to the Naval Observatory time server due to its use of 1200 bps modems (very old). If you find you have trouble connecting to one of the time servers, you should try using the other.
** Contributed **
The contributed folder contains a collection of macros and ProTERM related material which has been contributed by ProTERM users. These macros provide excellent examples for those intereseted in developing their own macro applications. Much of the contributed macro code includes documentation. Questions regarding the contributed code must be sent to the code authors, not to InTrec Software. Though there are no known problems with any of the items in the Contributed folder, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
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** Macro Changes **
The DIRC Documentation provides a systematic overview of all the functions available for use. In addition to this, the following notes detail some other import macro issues.
* Keyboard Macro Clarifications *
When choosing keyboard combinations to use for Keyboard Macros, it is best to avoid using the keys referred to as the ﾒdead-keysﾓ as part of your keyboard macros. Dead-keys require two separate keystrokes in order to generate a single character. The normal dead-keys which should be avoided are: OPTION+E, OPTION+U, OPTION+I, OPTION+N, and OPTION+`.
* Special Folder Aliases *
ProTERM defines three special ﾒaliasesﾓ which can be used within pathnames in order to aid in macro development. When these aliases are used within a pathname, they give a symbolic representation to folders which ProTERM considers significant. These ﾒaliasesﾓ work under both System 7 and System 6. The aliases are:
.APPL: The folder containing the ProTERM application program.
.SYST: The folder containing the active system software.
.PREF: The folder containing the ProTERM preference files.
Examples:
IF (IS_FILE(".APPL:Test File")) { ... }
EXTERN(".PREF:My-Macros", main());
* Selecting Files from a File Dialog *
The UI_SET() function can actually be used to select files in a file dialog window. There are several ﾒfakeﾓ item names which are used to identify what is being selected.
