Contents

Groone's Macroer V2.0

1.  The Control Panel

A.  Controls

B.  Running a Macro

C.  Commands and Values

2.  The Recorder

A.  Recording and Saving

B.  Editting a Macro

4.  The Scheduler

A.  Restored Sense Time

B.  Adding a Task

C.  Modifying, View and Delete

5.  Prefrences

A.  Setting the Startup Prefrences

B.  Setting my Hotkeys

6.  Building a Macro

A.  Running ScanDisk Example

B.  Hello World Example

C.  Changing the Computer Time Example

D.  Calculator Example

7.  Contacting


Controls
The Control Panel

Groone's Macroer when activated, rests neatly in your system tray.  To get to the control panel simply double click the icon, or you can access commands by right clicking and accessing the system menu.

File Load This menu selection will enable the user to load a premade macro into the macroer control window. Clear This menu selection will enable the user to clear the active macro from the macroer control window. Exit This menu selection enables the user to close down the macroer control panel.
Build
Edit
This menu selection opens up the Macro Editor where the user can develop newmacro's or edit existing macro's.  The double click feature allows for easy construction of the users macro's.

Record
This menu selection opens the Macro Recorder.  Here the user can record all movements across the computer screen.  The user may also edit the trapped messages once the recording is complete.

Prefs
StartUp Preferences
This menu selection allows the user to setup specific startup commands and hotkeys for macro's.  The user can determine how the macro control panle reacts when a macro is double clicked, the length of pause before starting, hotkey start and stop, and much more

Scheduler
Now the user can schedule macro tasks to run with out the need of being at the computer.  This is a great feature for the user whom is not at the desk and leaves the computer on.

Hide
When activated, this sends the macroer back to the system tray.

Help
Brings up this file.

Run
This button runs a macro that has been loaded into the macroer view port.

Stop
This button stops a macro that has been loaded and running in the macroer view port.

Add
Using this button will help the user create a macro by inserting in a sequencial manner the values and commands selected on the macroer control panel.

Insert
This button allows for the insertion of a command and value above the selected macro line in the macroer view port.

Delete
This button allows for the deletion of a selected line in the macroer view port.

Save
This button allows for the quick saving of a macro that has been constructed or modified in the macroer view port.


Automation


Recording and Saving

Getting the best out of your click The key to successful macro recording is patience.  While recording a macro the user should take time and do things purposefully.  This will save a good bit of time when it comes to having to edit the recorded macro.  Unfortunately there are no perfect recorders, but Groone's Macroer does come pretty close to recording all of the users actions.   Opening the Recorder Ensure Groone's Macroer is running.  Either open the macroer to it's control panel click on BUILD, then click on RECORD, or the user may right click on the Groone's Macroer icon in the systray and select RECORD from the menu selection.
Recording
Recording is very straight forward.  Once the recorder is open, and the " Begin Recording" button is pressed the program will detect every single movement and keypress that the user may issue.

Saving and Editting
Once the macro is complete click on the "Stop Recording" button.  At this point the user may delete unnecessary movements and clicks as well as add to them.  The user may put remark statements in the macro which will be overlooked by the program.  (More on remark statements below.)  Simply click on FILE and then SAVE and select the location the macro should be placed.

Remark Statements
Remark statements are information points that tell the user what exactly a certain area of a program or script does.  Groone's Macroer allows remark statements to be placed in the macro very easily.  While editting the macro, the user simply needs to place a = before any text and it will be read as a remark.  Remarks are good for keeping a users sanity in long scripts.  When using the =, there shouldnt be a space following.


Editting a Macro

Macro Defination/Parts

A macro is a small script or program that does repetitve tasks for a user.  It consists of lines of information that tell a computer exactly what to do.

Each line of a macro is called a macro event.  Since macro's are read in a linear fashion, each macro event carries a command.  Following each command is usually a value of some sort.  The exception to this rule are keypress commands.  Keypress commands are simply virtual keys that are sent to the computer.

Editting

Editting a macro or creating a new macro is fairly simple in Groone's Macroer.  The user simply needs to double click on the command of choice and it will automatically be added to the list of macro events.  Since there are numerous commands to use and more being added everyday, a list is beneficial for creating a good macro.

Like any language, the scripting language of Groone's Macroer uses a set of rules.  Although forgiving in some instance, Groone's Macroer likes for the user to use proper syntax, spelling and capitalization when it comes to the commands.  This is very important to know if a user decides to type the commands in rather then use the double click feature of the list.

Editor

File

New - Clears the current work area and allows for the user to create a new macro.

Open - Opens an existing macro for easy editting.

Save As - Allows a user to save a macro with a aprticular file name so as not to destroy an 	existing macro.

Close - Saves and closes an existing macro in it's original open location.

Exit - Exits the program.

Edit - Provides a Cut, Copy, and Paste routines that may be used for macro creation.


Restored Sense of Time

A Restored Sense of Time

Windows task manager is pleasant but quite limited in it's capabilities, and most people dont really know they have it.   If they do know they have it they are endlessly trying to figure out just how the heck to deactivate it.  There is nothing like working in MS Access when all of a sudden the computer goes into a defragment routine, thus freezing up the computer and causing the loss of a database that took 6 hours to build.

Groone's Macroer Macro Scheduler puts the control back into the users hands!  It's easy to use and best of all the USER decides what the computer is going to do and if the computer does it wrong.....well.....ummm......hehe....it's the users fault!  The scheduler will save the user time by running macro's that are specifically created for that computer.  One must remember that no two computers are the same, and hence must never be treated the same.  The macro's the user creates are specifically for that computer and no others.  Sure they may work on another computer, but maybe not as well or efficiently.


Adding a Task

Adding a Task

From the Macroer control panel click on PREFS then click on SCHEDULER.  The macro scheduler should appear.  Click on "Add New" and the "Schedule Entry" box should appear.

Description - This is a small title that will be seen in the scheduler window

Frequency to be Ran - How often will the macro be run?  This allows for macro's to be ran Once-O, Daily - D, and Weekly - W.  (The once option will automatically delete the entry when it has completed its cycle.)

Time - this is the time at which the macro will be ran.

Date - This is a full calendar.  If using the Once, or Daily option the actual date is not necessary, but being able to see the day is.  Keep this in mind when selecting a date.  Just because the date is a year old, the day the macro is meant to run remains the same.

Macro Path and Browse - This is the path of the users macro file.  By clicking on Browse the user can navigate and select the location of the macro file to be ran.

Finally, the last big box is a detailed description of what the macro is suppose to do.


Modify, View, Save and Delete

Modifying an Existing Entry

To modify an existing entry in the scheduler simply double click on the section that needs to be modified and a box such as the one above will appear.  Enter the new information and click on modify.

Saving

When a task is modified, the actual modification isn't saved to disk until the user clicks on SAVE/UPDATE.  At this time the scheduler will disappear and count down to is scheduled time to run the macro.

Viewing a Task

Simply single left click on the task you wish to view, then click on VIEW from the scheduler menu.  A box as the one above will appear and will show the user all the information about that shceduled task.

Deleting a Task

Click on the task you wish to delete.  Click on DELETE and then click on SAVE/UPDATE.

It is very important to click on SAVE/UPDATE after any modification to the scheduler screen.  This will ensure that the user is using the most up-to-date task schedule available.


Setting the Startup Preferences

Run Loaded Macro

When this option is checked, all macro files that are double clicked will automatically load and then run without a pause.

Enable Pause For Auto Start

When this option is checked, there will be a pause from 1-150 seconds before a macro will run after being loaded automatically.

Seconds to Pause

The amount of time from which a macro is loaded into the control view port to the actually time the macro begins to run.

Enable CTRL+ALT+R Begin, Enable CTRL+ALT+S stop

On occasion it may be easier to simply run or stop a macro by pressing a Hotkey rather then actually pressing the run/stop button.  When this option is checked, the loaded macro will automatically begin to run or stop .

Disable mouse tracking

When this option is checked, the X,Y mouse location will not be displayed on the macroer control panel.  There will be numbers in the location to take up space but they will not be moving as the user moves the mouse around.


Setting the Hotkeys.
Setting the Hotkeys

HotKeys

Groone's Macroer allows for the user to set 6 out of 24 possible hotkeys to use for quick calling often used macro's.  The user can select from function keys F1-F6 by themselves, using the ALT key, using the CTRL key, or using a combination of CTRL+ALT.

How to Assign

Simply place a check mark in the keys you wish to activate as hotkeys.  Decide if you wish to use a key combination or not.....the user must keep in mind that other programs may use hotkeys as well so it would be wise to use a key combination so as to not hinder the use of the program the user wishes to use a macro on.

Next, the user will wish to place the path of the premade macro into the space provided for file path.  Clicking on the button to the right of the space will bring up the file locate box so the user can easily locate and select the needed file.

Click OK, and you will be told that the settings will take affect next time you logon, click OK.


Running ScanDisk Example

ScanDisk is foremost the widest used program in the MicroSoft brigade of software.  Since this is the widest used program in Microsoft shouldn't the macro be simple to create?  It is.  With one line of text the macro is built.

Simply open Groone's Macroer

Select RunProgram from the commands list.

For the value type C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\SCANDISK.EXE /n

Click ADD

Click SAVE

There you have it.  You have created your first macro.  Is it functional yet?  Well, it is kind of, but to make it even more functional we could assign this macro to a hotkey.  Lets say we assign it to F6.  Now every time we press F6 Scandisk will run.  "But Groone, I don't wanna press F6 everytime I wish to run scandisk."  you say.  Then why don't we place it in the macro scheduler and have it run at 12 midnight


Hello World Example

Say for instance you need to show a group of people how to do something, or you need to do a presentation.  Groone's Macroer will allow you to run programs and do standard operations with ease.  It is a useful tool which will give a professional presentation in any meeting.

This example will run MS Word 97, type some text, change the font and save the text with a desired name.  This is a long macro, but just remember you will only need to create a macro once, and a little bit of time creating a good macro will save you a bunch of time in the future.  This example shows how remarks can be inserted to maintain your sanity.  This example is also done on a screen resolution of 1024x768, so if you are going to attempt this one, you MUST adjust your MouseMove's accordingly.

==We open our Program==

RunProgram >C:\PROGRAM FILES\Microsoft Office\Office\Winword.exe

Wait >2

==We want to ensure we have ample time to open==

SendText >Hello World!

==Move mouse to font list==

MouseMove >209,79

Wait >1

LClick

Wait >1

SendText >arial

==we have selected arial==

Wait >1

Press_Enter

==We move mouse to the bold button==

MouseMove >273,77

Wait >1

LClick

Wait >1

==press enter to accept the new font==

Press_Enter

Wait >1

SendText >Bold Arial Font Now

Wait >2

==the alt+f will open the file menu==

Press_ALT

Wait >1

SendText >f

Release_ALT

Wait >1

==we press f to save==

SendText >s

Wait >2

==stupid paper clip comes up and we make it go away==

MouseMove >749,351

Wait >1

LClick

Wait >1

==we name our file sample==

SendText >sample

Wait >1

Press_Enter

Wait >1

==we press alf+f and then x to exit the program==

Press_ALT

Wait >1

SendText >F

Release_ALT

Wait >2

SendText >x


Changing the Computer Time Example

Sometimes it is important to modify computer systems so they are all alike.  Like me for example, the computers I work on must all hit the desktop with a time of 12:00:00 in the afternoon or there abouts.

There are two ways we can go about accessing the Date/Time program extension.  I will give an example of each.  I do this to show you the key usage.

The first is through the RUN command on Windows 95 startmenu.

Wait >1

Press_CTRL

Wait >1

Press_ESC

Release_CTRL

Wait >1

SendText >R

Wait >2

SendText >C:\WINDOWS\CONTROL.EXE Date/Time

Wait >1

Press_Enter

Wait >1

Press_Tab

Press_Tab

Press_Tab

Wait >1

SendText >12

Wait >1

Press_Tab

SendText >00

Wait >1

Press_Tab

SendText >00

Wait >1

Press_Tab

SendText >p

Wait >1

Press_Tab

Press_Enter

This Second one we simple call the Date/Time control extension directly.

RunProgram >C:\WINDOWS\CONTROL.EXE Date/Time

Wait >1

Press_Tab

Press_Tab

Press_Tab

Wait >1

SendText >12

Wait >1

Press_Tab

Wait >1

SendText >00

Wait >1

Press_Tab

Wait >1

SendText >00

Wait >1

Press_Tab

SendText >p

Wait >1

Press_Tab

Press_Enter

When developing your macro you as the user must decide the appropriate wait times between commands.  Some computers are lightning fast and dont need want delays.  Others are fast but have a small cache and hence require wait delays.  You must decide what is best for the computer you will be running from.  I always say take your time.  Slow and steady makes your job easy.


Troubleshooting


Contact
Groone's World Development

P.O.Box 50121

Mobile, Alabama 36605

http://www.groonesworld.com

groone@groonesworld.com


Running a Macro

Running from the Command Line

Groones Macroer has the ability to run premade macros from a command line.   An example is below.  We will assume Groone's Macroer has been installed into it's default directory [c:\gmac] and the macros are stored in a directory called macros [c:\macros].

C:\GMAC\GMACROER.EXE C:\MACROS\MYCOOLMAC.GMP

The call to the macro programs comes first then a space and then the call to the macro.  You MUST include the path to the macro following the call to the macroer itself.

Running from the Control Panel

Start Groone's Macroer and bring up the control panel.  You may click on File, then click on Load and select your macro, or you may build a new macro directly from the control panel.  Once your macro is loaded you may click on RUN or if you setup your startup preferences you can press CTRL+R.


Commands and Values

This is a brief explanation of the commands used by Groone's Macroer.

RunProgram

This command executes a program located on the users hard drive.

Example:  RunProgram >c:\windows\notepad.exe

ExecuteFile

This command executes and opens a file in it's associated program.  A word document with the .doc extension would be opened in Microsoft Word.

Example:  ExecuteFile>c:\my documents\thismanual.doc

MessageBox

This command allows for a simple message box with the message of the users chosing to be displayed.  The macro will not continue to run until the OK button is pressed.

Example:  MessageBox >Click OK to begin the demo!

WaitForWindow

This command pauses the macroer until such time a the desired window is displayed.  It supports partial name.  For instance, the user desires the macroer to pause until "explorer" is opened.  The example shows partial name usage waiting for explorer to appear.  Keep in mind, other programs may have a same partial caption name so Macroer will wait for the First instance of the partial name.

Example:  WaitForWindow >Expl

CloseWindow

This command closes the desired window.  It is based on the window caption name.  Accepts partial caption names

Example:  CloseWindow >Explor

Wait

The Wait command does just that.  It pauses between each command.  The Wait command is defaulted to 1 second.

Example:  Wait >1

SetFocus

The SetFocus command brings the named program to the top.  Each program has a title bar.  SetFocus reads the contents of that title bar. Lets take the title bar of this help screen for an example of SetFocus usage. The message must be identical to what is shown in the title bar.   Supports partial window captions names.

Example:  SetFocus >Groone's Macroer Help

Partial Name Example:  SetFocus >  Macroer

SendText

The SendText command sends user defined text to the program that has focus.  Send text can be used in conjunction with any of the key presses such as if the user wishes to press a hot key sequence of CTRL-F.

Example:  SendText >This is my text to send.

MouseMove

MouseMove sends the mouse cursor to the defined location.  From the Macroer main console, the user can define the location of the X,Y coordinates of the cursor.

Example:  MouseMove > 799,430

Repeat, End_Repeat

These two commands work together.  If the user uses the command Repeat, then there must be an End_Repeat at the end of the command list.  The Repeat command defaults to 1 itteration.

Example:

Repeat >5

RunProgram >c:\windows\notepad.exe

Wait >1

SendText >Hello World

End_Repeat

**Note - Currently it is not possible to repeat within a repeat.  This will occur in the next update.

Press_BackSpace,Press_Tab,Press_Enter,Press_ESC

Simulates the key being pressed

Press_F1 thru Press_F12

Simulates the function keys being pressed

Press_Home,Press_End

Simulates the Home and End keys being pressed

Press_Up,Press_Down,Press_Left,Press_Right

Simulates the arrow keys being pressed

Press_PageUp,Press_PageDown

Simulates the Page Up and Page Down keys being pressed

Press_Ins,Press_Del

Simulates the Insert and Delete keys being pressed

Press_Shift,Release_Shift

In some circumstances the user may need these keys to be continuously pressed until another key is released.  In such cases the user must follow the key press with the key being released.  This command simulates the shift key press and depress sequence

Press_CTRL,Release_CTRL

In some circumstances the user may need these keys to be continuously pressed until another key is released.  In such cases the user must follow the key press with the key being released.  This command simulates the control key press and depress sequence

ALT_UP, ALT_Down, Press_ALT

In some circumstances the user may need these keys to be continuously pressed until another key is released.  In such cases the user must follow the key press with the key being released.  This command simulates the alt key press and depress sequence.  Press_ALT is a quick press and release of the ALT key.

Press_Caps, CapsOn, CapsOff

Simulates the caps on/off press

Press_NumLock, NumOn, NumOff

Simulates the NumLock on/off press

Press_ScrollLock, ScrollOn, ScrollOff

Simulates the ScrollLock on/off press

Press_PrintScreen

Simulates PrintScreen key press

Loop

The Loop command loops continuously  the entire macro script from start to the placement of the command.

Example:

RunProgram >c:\windows\notepad.exe

wait >3

SetFocus >Untitled - Notepad

SendText >Hello World!

Press_Enter

Loop

This will loop the entire process.  The script can include the Repeat command within the loop.

Mouse Events

LDblClick

Left Double Click

RDblClick

Right Double Click

LClick

Left Click

LDown

Left Mouse Button Down

LUp

Left Mouse Button Up

RClick

Right Click

RDown

Right Mouse Button Down

RUp


Calculator Example

This simply runs the calculator and times 24 x 24

RunProgram >C:\WINDOWS\CALC.EXE

Wait >1

SetFocus >Calculator

Wait >1

SendText >24

Wait >1

SendText >*

Wait >1

SendText >24

Wait >1

Press_Enter


Troubleshooting

Q


If you wish to pay by check or money order remit payements to:

Groone's World

P.O.Box 50121

Mobile, Alabama 36605

Please allow 10 days for check clearance.  There will be a $25 fee for all returned checks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Order Form

First Name:_____________________  Last Name:______________________

Company:______________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________

City:__________________________ State:_______ Zip Code_____________

Country:__________________

Email Address:___________________________

Home Phone:__________________________

Work Phone:___________________________

Fax:______________________________