Thank you for your purchase of Tempo II Plus version 3.0 for Macintosh computers running Systems 6 or 7. This document covers last-minute findings and compatibility information. A printed version of this document is included with your Tempo II Plus.
Please print out this document and save it with your Tempo II Plus User Manual.
NEW TO TEMPO II PLUS 3.0.8
1. New Preference Setting!
“Prevent mouse click from interrupting playback” is a new checkbox in Tempo’s Preferences dialog box. When the box is checked, pressing the mouse button will no longer interrupt playback of a macro. This preference may be set universally or for specific applications.
This serves two purposes: 1) Novice users cannot accidentally interrupt macro playback by tapping on a mouse button and
2) a macro that includes a click on a window that belongs to another application will not go into interrupt mode during playback.
With the checkbox unchecked, you may interrupt macro playback by clicking on the mouse button or typing command-comma, as usual. When macro playback is interrupted, the Tempo playback menu changes to three dots (…), the interrupt menu.
2. New Default Macro File handling
If you have not selected a default macro file, Tempo II Plus 3.0.8 and newer will automatically open a macro file named “Tempo II Plus Macros” in the System Folder or the Tempo+ Folder in the System Folder of your startup drive.
For more information, see item 4, “Tempo Preferences File,” below.
IMPORTANT INSTALLATION NOTE
When you install Tempo under System 7, you must copy the “Tempo II” desk accessory to the Apple Menu Items folder. Do not use an auxiliary desk accessory utility such as Suitcase or Master Juggler for the Tempo II DA.
1. REVIEW THE EXTRAS DISK.
Many valuable aids for your use of Tempo II Plus reside on the 3.0 Extras disk, including the following:
a. NEW Tempo Dialer!
This program automates dialing your phone using any phone number found in nearly any file. It handles local and long distance prefixes and is a terrific time-saver for anyone with a modem connected to their Macintosh.
b. Tempo Autoboots
These are applications that run Tempo macros. They may be used to run a macro at startup or by double-clicking on an icon. A ReadMe files accompanies them.
c. Apple Event documents
Documentation for using Apple events with Tempo and FileMaker Pro 2.0, HyperCard and UserLand Frontier, including a Tempo glue installer for Frontier 2.0.
d. Sample Macros and Tutorials
Predefined macros with comprehensive documentation and tutorials. Included are Batch Process macros, for automatically applying changes to a folder-full of files, macros that will automate the Find/Change command in Microsoft Word documents, and others. You may use these both for immediate automation of complex tasks and as guides to using the full capabilities of Tempo to meet your specific needs.
e. Claris XTND files
You may add or update Claris XTND files for saving expanded macros in the Viewer with formatted text.
f. HyperCard tools and Excel add-ons.
You may use HyperCard to control Tempo and vice versa. Included are a PostEvent XCMD to allow HyperCard scripts to call Tempo macros, and for such functions as GetTempoVariable and SetTempoVariable.
The Tempo+ Excel folder includes an Excel Register file with a demonstration file designed for use with Excel 2.2 but may be used with later versions as well. This allows Excel macros to call Tempo macros. Use this to pass macro calls back and forth, between Excel and Tempo.
g. Extra Externals and Updates
These include information on Mount(), a new external that will mount an AppleShare volume under System 7, and four new string parsing externals, which let Tempo parse the left, right or middle {n} characters of a string assigned to a Tempo variable.
The four new string parsing externals, with their parameters, are:
Left(text,number)
Right(text,number)
Middle(text,start,number)
Length(text)
Any of the parameters may be variables, and the results may be assigned to a variable as well. These variables are already in the Tempo+ Externals file in the Tempo+ Folder on the Tempo II Plus 3.0 program disk. A sample macro file and MS Word document is included in the Sample Macros folder.
There is also a folder with programmer’s documents for creating custom Tempo externals, several Tempo and Apple utilities and more.
2. SYSTEM 7 “HIDE” AND “SHOW” APPLICATION MENU SELECTIONS
To record a macro that selects one of the first three menu items in the System 7 Application menu—Hide [current application], Hide Others or Show All—first select “Disable smart features” from Tempo's Recording Settings dialog box, then choose the menu item. The macro will replay properly regardless of the name shown as the current application. Reenable smart features if you are continuing the macro. Do not disable smart features to record specific application names below the first three items.
3. DESK ACCESSORIES AND CONTROL PANELS UNDER SYSTEM 7
Use “Launch file” and not “Launch application” in Tempo's recording Options dialog box to open or switch to most Apple Menu Items, Extensions and Control Panels under System 7.
When you save a macro recorded within an Apple Menu Item that was a standard desk accessory under System 6, its name will appear as the name of the application in the Tempo macro list window. However, all macros that formerly were recorded as "DA Handler" macros under System 6 will still play to all current Desk Accessories under System 7. These programs, which had the creator bytes "DMOV" and type "DFIL" under System 6, have been changed to the new creator bytes "movr" and type "dfil" under System 7.
Some former DAs, such as Apple's Note Pad and Alarm Clock, now have unique creator bytes which allow macros recorded within them to be saved as application-specific.
4. TEMPO PREFERENCES FILE
The first time Tempo starts up on your Macintosh, a Tempo Preferences file will be added to the Preferences Folder in the System Folder under System 7 or directly to the System Folder under System 6. This stores only the name of your default macro file.
If you have not selected a default macro file, and do not have a Tempo Preferences file, Tempo II Plus 3.0.8 and newer will look first in the System Folder and next in the Tempo+ Folder in the System Folder of your startup drive to automatically open a macro file named “Tempo II Plus Macros”.
(Settings made in the “Preferences” dialog in the Tempo menu, as well as the Macro Menu assignments, are stored within the Tempo macro files and not the “Tempo Preferences” file.)
5. SENDING APPLE EVENTS TO TEMPO FROM FILEMAKER PRO 2.0
You can trigger a Tempo macro from a FileMaker Pro 2.0 script, trigger a FileMaker script with a Tempo macro, and assign and evaluate variables between FileMaker files and Tempo variables using Apple events. A complete description of this is found in the file “Apple Events/FileMaker/Frontier” in the folder by the same name.
6. CURSOR CHANGES TO WATCH UNDER SYSTEM 7
Note that in the Finder under System 7 the cursor may sometimes change to a watch, such as when the Tempo menu is held open, but it can still be used as a standard cursor to activate menu items and buttons.
7. DEFER()
Both of Defer's parameters—the macro to play and the number of seconds to wait—may be variables.
8. BITMATCH()
a. Counter to the statement in the Tempo II Plus 3.0 User Manual, a branch to a BitMatch external does not need to be the last step in a macro. A macro can branch to a BitMatch external macro and return.
b. The BitMatch external included in the Tempo+ Externals file in Tempo II Plus 3.0.7 and newer fixes the problem in which Desk Accessory names under System 7 are preceded by two null characters. It also allows snapping a BitMatch on a secondary screen.
9. CLIPTYPE() VERSUS TEMPO VARIABLES FOR STORING DATA
The maximum number of characters that a Tempo variable can store, as in the external W=SelectedText(), is 255. But there is no limit to number of characters which can be stored by ClipType. So if you need to copy in and type out large amounts of text, ClipType may be the better choice. Note that a macro that types out large amounts of text may require extra time to play. Autopaste or simply a copy-and-paste macro may be better alternatives when available.
10. SELECTING THE DESKTOP WITH SETPATH()
To use SetPath() to select the desktop under System 7, create the external “SetPath({startup}Desktop Folder:)”. Play that macro before you make a selection that opens a file directory dialog box. Tempo’s {startup} built-in variable contains the name of the current startup drive followed by a colon.
As a shortcut, add a variable called “desktop” in the Variables dialog box in the Tempo+ Viewer. Type “{startup}Desktop Folder:” as its contents and click Done. Then you can use “SetPath({desktop})” to set the directory to your desktop.
11. RECORDING SELECTIONS FROM POPUP MENUS
Tempo does not record selections from popup menus by name. You may need to record selections from popup menus with “Disable Smart Features” selected in Tempo’s Recording Settings dialog box. You may change the setting for that step only, within the macro. An example is selecting from a long list of printers in the popup list within the Page Setup dialog box. If the item to be selected in the popup menu extends below the screen, record the selection in two steps: select the last on-screen menu item, then select the required item.
If the popup menu sometimes appears with different selections showing, so that the macro cannot reliably select from a specific location, first record a macro that will reset the popup to the first item in the list, then select the required item.
Here is one way to do this: Select the last item in the list, then start recording. If the list scrolls off the top of the screen, select the top-most visible item. Repeat that until the first item in the list is on-screen. Then click half-way up the list and release, click half-way up the remaining items, and repeat that until only two or three items are left above the selection rectangle. Then click to select one item up and repeat that two or three times, until the top, or first, item is selected. Stop recording and save that macro with a name such as “Reset popup list to top”. Test the macro by setting the list to various items and playing it. It should reliably select the top item regardless of which item is selected when the macro starts. Now, with the top item in the list selected, start recording, branch to that macro, then select the item you need from the list.
12. BATCH PROCESS II IN PHOTOSHOP 2.5
If you are using Batch Process II in PhotoShop 2.5, use the macro file called “Batch Process II.5”. You may also use Batch Process II.5 within Illustrator 5.0.
13. USING VARIABLES AS EXTERNALS PARAMETERS
Most externals let you use variables for their parameters. If an external has more than one parameter, you may need to use a separate variable for each, such as MoveFile({src},{dest}) rather than putting both parameters in a single variable.
14. ACCESSING TEMPO DIALOGS WHILE OTHER MODAL DIALOGS ARE OPEN
Under certain conditions, if you save a macro or access a Tempo dialog box while an application’s modal dialog box is open, Tempo's dialog may not appear. If this happens, try clicking again on the Tempo menu or closing the application's dialog box. You may enter Command-comma to suspend recording, click on the Cancel button to close the application’s dialog box, complete the Tempo steps, and then reopen the dialog box and resume recording. Recorded this way, playback of the macro will not be affected.
15. TEMPO PLUS VIEWER
With a very large macro file, the Viewer may take a while to open the Macro List window under System 7.1. Also, saving macros in other applications will take longer when the Viewer is running, since it updates the Macro List window behind the current application.
16. WHEN TEMPO CANNOT RECORD A CONTROL CLICK
Try recording with Smart Features Disabled or use Real Time to record mouse clicks that Tempo cannot record or replay properly. See the Tempo II Plus 3.0 User Manual for tips on how to record a minimum-duration Real Time click.
17. TEMPO ASSIST
Tempo Assist must be placed directly into the Startup Items Folder in your System Folder under System 7. It will not be placed there automatically by dropping it into the System Folder.
Note that the filename for !Tempo Assist begins with an exclamation point. Earlier versions had a leading space. This lets it be the first application loaded after the Macintosh starts up. You may need to include the exclamation point if you need to manually enter Tempo Assist as a recipient application for Apple events.
18. SAM ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION
Use SAM Intercept 3.5.4 or newer.
When Tempo attempts to write to the Tempo+ Variables file, in the Tempo+ Folder, SAM will intercept the change if you have the prevention level set to Advanced. Click on the Learn button in the SAM notification dialog box to add the Tempo+ Variables file to the exceptions list. Unless you have a partition that needs to be protected from all activity, it’s not necesary to use the Advanced level of Sam protection, according to Symantec technical support.
19. GLOBAL VILLAGE FAX MODEMS
There is a conflict between the Global Village and Tempo Externals FKeys, both ID=6. When a Tempo External macro is played, it issues a Command-Shift-6, which also signals the Global Village program to start. There is no way to change the Global Village FKey assignment. To change the Tempo Externals FKey ID number, launch the Tempo+ Resource Mover, click on the FKeys button, open your startup System File and click on "6 Tempo Externals." Then click renumber and enter any number from 4 to 9 that is not already in use.
After you make this change, the Tempo external macros you save will issue an FKey of the number you assigned instead of 6. To test it select Quit Tempo II Plus from the Tempo menu, then enter Command-shift-# (#=the number you've assigned). It should reopen Tempo. The downside is that any externals which you have already created will have to be edited to change the FKey it issues from 6 to your new number, or you may create new externals to replace the existing ones. To use your Tempo macro files on multiple machines, change the Tempo Externals FKey IDs on the other machines to match.
20. AMERICA ONLINE
Scroll bar clicks to provide Page Up and Page Down functions may not perform in AOL windows while the application is on-line.
21. NOW MENUS
Tempo cannot record Apple menu hierarchical selections as created by Now Menus. Record selections from the Apple menu with Now Menus turned off, and your macros will then play with Now Menus either on or off.
22. DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE II
The presence of Directory Assistance II from Symantec Norton Utilities may override the Tempo SetPath External. It may also interfere with other standard Tempo file/open or launch macros. Be sure to test such macros to determine they work properly.
To temporarily defeat Directory Assistance, hold down on the Option key while making a menu selection that results in a directory dialog.
23. BEHIERARCHIC, HAM AND MENUCHOICE
Under System 7, Tempo II Plus 3.0 should load after these extensions.
You may place the HAM program from MicroSeeds in the Extensions folder instead of Control Panels folder so it will load before Tempo. For BeHierarchic and MenuChoice, use an extensions manager program if possible to have them load before Tempo. If required, you may place Tempo II Plus 3.0 loose in the System Folder to let it load after the other extensions and control panels.
24. QT/DIALOG POWER
The following applies if you save a Tempo macro when running QT/Dialog Power from Advanced Software Inc.: Holding down the command key and entering a character shown as underlined within button names will activate the button; it will not be entered as a Tempo macro key code.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
We sincerely hope you enjoy using Tempo II Plus version 3.0. If you have questions or comments, or need technical assistance, please call Tempo Technical Support, at 303-442-4840, from 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm weekdays, Mountain Time.
You may also contact Affinity Technical Support via America OnLine at Affinity, AppleLink at D0001, or CompuServe at 76344,1750, or fax Affinity at 303-442-4999.
