June 7, 2023

Macro Scheduler Update 15.0.23 Available

Filed under: Announcements — Marcus Tettmar @ 1:26 pm

Macro Scheduler 15.0.23 is now available with the following changes:

  • Added: EdgeExecute function
  • Added: RP_CAPTURESTDOUT and RP_STDOUT variables for capturing STDOUT from RunProgram process. Warning: using this will mean RunProgram will ALWAYS wait for the process to terminate, which may require user input in some cases.
  • Added: LClick and RClick can now take multiplier like Press commands, e.g. LCLick * 2, RClick * 2
  • Added: optional 5th param to DateDiff & TimeDiff commands to return whether date2/time2 is later or earlier than date1/time2
  • Added: Between function to return text between two tokens
  • Added: ^ (power) operator to Let command
  • Added: [drive], [folder], [filename] keywords to EasyPattern regex mode.
  • Added: Ability to block comment/uncomment with ctrl+/ in editor

Registered Downloads/Upgrades | Trial Downloads

April 9, 2020

Assisting the UK National Health Service

Filed under: Announcements,Automation,General — Marcus Tettmar @ 3:46 pm

We find ourselves in challenging times. At MJT Net we’re all working from home, with the difficulty of trying to educate and entertain our children at the same time.

Of course there is also a great deal of financial uncertainty. Businesses and people everywhere are feeling the pinch, ourselves included.

Clearly though, the biggest challenge is being felt by our amazing health services, which are under incredible pressures.

Behind the scenes, healthcare IT departments are working against the clock, often with huge volumes of data. So it’s great to know that Macro Scheduler is reducing the burden during the current crisis.

Here’s what Tom, a Clinical Systems Developer at an NHS hospital in Northern England, told us last week:

“In a crisis situation, we needed a straightforward automation tool which could help us make quick changes to a wide range of systems – without time to write API code. We found that Macro Scheduler more than fit the bill: it rapidly enabled us to automate repetitive tasks and to free up needed resources – ultimately giving us the time to better support our clinical staff in fighting coronavirus. In particular we have been very impressed with its ability to easily integrate with Google Chrome – like many organisations a lot of our tools are web-based and our ability to build automation into these workflows is a real game-changer.”

If you work for a hospital on the front-line of coronavirus care and would benefit in using Macro Scheduler, or require additional licenses, please contact me using your official work email address, tell me what you need Macro Scheduler for and we will see how we can help.

We’ve worked closely with a few UK hospital trusts over the years. In particular, Bournemouth Hospital has used Macro Scheduler extensively to automate dozens of clinical and administrative processes within the trust. You will find a case study we did with them a few years ago here. Many times Macro Scheduler has been used to streamline processes that save the time of clinicians. And that can mean more patients get seen.

March 19, 2020

Covid-19 Response – Free Macro Scheduler Licenses for NHS Establishments

Filed under: Announcements — Marcus Tettmar @ 3:16 pm

We find ourselves in challenging times. Things here in the UK seem to be changing rapidly every day. Only last night we heard that our schools will close tomorrow and this morning it was announced they were likely to remain closed for the rest of the academic year. So no school until September. I am already working from home. All of us here at MJT are working remotely, so we’re all safe and able to support you. But with two boys at secondary school I am now preparing for having them both at home and having to make sure they do their work while trying to do mine. Could be interesting!

Clearly though, the biggest challenge is being felt by our amazing health service, which is under incredible pressures. So, where possible I’d like to offer any NHS establishment free use of Macro Scheduler while this crisis lasts. If you work for the NHS and would benefit in using Macro Scheduler, or require additional licenses, please contact me using your NHS email address, tell me what you need Macro Scheduler for and we will see how we can help.

We’ve worked closely with a few NHS trusts over the years. In particular, Bournemouth Hospital has used Macro Scheduler extensively to automate dozens of clinical and administrative processes within the trust. You will find a case study we did with them a few years ago here. Many times Macro Scheduler has been used to streamline processes that save the time of clinicians. And that can mean more patients get seen.

February 28, 2020

MacroScript SDK and Workflow Designer Updated for MacroScript v15

Filed under: Announcements — Marcus Tettmar @ 2:31 pm

A quick note for those of you using the Macro Scheduler Pro Enterprise pack and/or the MacroScript SDK. Workflow Designer and the SDK have now been updated with the latest 15.0.06 MacroScript engine and can be downloaded from the registered user area.

February 20, 2020

Macro Scheduler 15 is Here!

Filed under: Announcements,Automation — Marcus Tettmar @ 11:26 am

I am really pleased to announce the release of Macro Scheduler 15.

As well as lots of small internal improvements, Macro Scheduler 15 brings native functions for automating the Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers. We’ve also added some new Excel functions, including one that allows you to run any VBA code you like, making the native Excel functions infinitely extendable.

It was also time for a visual refresh…

Modern Web Browser Automation

With Macro Scheduler 15 we’ve introduced two sets of new web browser automation commands. One for Microsoft Edge and another for Google Chrome.

These functions use the new WebDriver interface, and connect to Chrome and Edge via Google’s ChromeDriver and Microsoft’s WebDriver or MS Edge Driver components.

Here’s a short video of Chrome being controlled with these new commands:

For more info see the help topics: Chrome Functions, Edge Functions.

Enhanced Excel Automation

More Excel functions has been a popular request. So we added some. The challenge though, is how to know when to stop. Microsoft’s Excel VBA is pretty unlimited. There’s no way we could wrap every possible function into a native Macro Scheduler one, so we needed a solution.

Well, for years now we’ve been able to convert Excel VBA into VBScript which can be run inside Macro Scheduler. But converting VBA to VBScript can be challenging. Instead, we thought it would be great if you could just pass any valid VBA directly into Excel. So now you can!

//run pure VBA code to set the color
XLRunCode>xlH,ActiveSheet.Range("B12").Interior.Color = vbRed

//could be an entire block of code - let's create a bar chart 
LabelToVar>vba_code,theCode
XLRunCode>xlH,theCode

/*
vba_code:
  Range("A1:B11").Select
  ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddChart2(201, xlColumnClustered).Select
  ActiveChart.SetSourceData Source:=Range("Sheet1!$A$1:$B$11")
  ActiveSheet.Shapes("Chart 1").IncrementLeft +50
  ActiveSheet.Shapes("Chart 1").IncrementTop -30
*/

You should be able to record a macro in Excel and then copy/paste the code it produces into Macro Scheduler like the above.

Downloads & Upgrades

Licensed Downloads/Upgrades | Trial Version | New Licenses

If you have a subscription visit your personal link sent to you in your welcome email.

February 12, 2020

Setting cell functions in Excel, plus a sneak peak!

Filed under: Announcements,Automation — Marcus Tettmar @ 12:30 pm

Something that often gets asks is ‘Can I insert a function into Excel’ using Macro Scheduler‘s native XL functions?’.

Yes, you can. It may not be obvious from the documentation but with XLSetCell you can output any expression accepted by Excel. It doesn’t have to be a literal value.

You might set a literal value with something like this:

XLSetCell>xlH,Sheet1,2,2,560,result

In Excel you insert a function by starting the input with the ‘=’ sign, so we can do the same with XLSetCell:

XLSetCell>xlH,Sheet1,20,2,=SUM(B1:B19),result

In the same way we can force the cell to text format by preceding the input with an apostrophe:

XLSetCell>xlH,Sheet1,2,2,'560,result

These formats are standard Excel features. All we’re doing here is passing a value to Excel that it understands. But you may not have realised you can do this with Macro Scheduler’s native functions.

Coming Soon – More functions & run ANY VBA code!

A few people have requested more native XL functions. We’re working on it.

For example, a new function to set the cell colour:

RGB>50,150,50,color1
XLSetCellColor>xlH,Sheet1,13,2,color1

But how about being able to run ANY valid Excel VBA you like?

XLRunVBA>xlH,ActiveSheet.Range("B12").Interior.Color = vbRed

It could be a whole block of code:

LabelToVar>vba_code,theCode
XLRunVBA>xlH,theCode

/*
vba_code:
  Range("A1:B11").Select
  ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddChart2(201, xlColumnClustered).Select
  ActiveChart.SetSourceData Source:=Range("Sheet1!$A$1:$B$11")
  ActiveSheet.Shapes("Chart 1").IncrementLeft +50
  ActiveSheet.Shapes("Chart 1").IncrementTop -30
*/

These features are in development. Watch them in action here:

The sky is the limit!

Note: At time of writing these functions do NOT exist in the current version. These are in development. Their names and syntax may change. Keep an eye out for updates.

Be the first to get these new features by making sure your maintenance or subscription us up to date 🙂

February 5, 2020

Macro Scheduler 14.5.7 Update

Filed under: Announcements — Marcus Tettmar @ 6:44 pm

We have today released Macro Scheduler 14.5.7 maintenance update.

Version History | Licensed Downloads

You will note that the user area no longer requests a password. Passwords will no longer be sent. Instead, on entering your email address a ‘magic link’ will be sent to you immediately in an email. Emails are usually pretty instantaneous. Once received, click on the link within and you will be logged straight into the user area.

December 20, 2018

Season’s Greetings!

Filed under: Announcements,General — Marcus Tettmar @ 1:01 pm

From all of us at MJT we wish you season’s greetings and a wonderful start to 2019.

Here’s a fun little script with a message from Macro Scheduler. Open Macro Scheduler (download the trial if you don’t already have it), click New to create a new macro and paste this code in and hit run.

OnEvent>key_down,VK27,0,Quit
SRT>Quit
  SetControlText>Sparkler,TEdit,1,Complete
  WaitWindowClosed>Sparkler
  Wait>1
  DeleteFile>%temp_dir%\Sparkler.scp
  Exit>0
END>Quit
 
DeleteFile>%temp_dir%\Sparkler.scp
LabelToVar>SparkleScript,vScrData
WriteLn>%temp_dir%\Sparkler.scp,wres,vScrData
 
Dialog>Dialog1
object Dialog1: TForm
  BorderStyle = bsNone
  Caption = 'Happy Holidays'
  ClientHeight = 330
  ClientWidth = 780
  Color = 111111
  Position = poScreenCenter
  object Panel3: TPanel
    Left = 0
    Top = 0
    Width = 780
    Height = 330
    BevelEdges = []
    BevelOuter = bvNone
    Caption = 'And a Happy New Year'
    Color = 111111
    Font.Charset = ANSI_CHARSET
    Font.Color = clRed
    Font.Height = -80
    Font.Name = 'Vladimir Script'
    Font.Style = []
    ParentFont = False
    Visible = False
  end
  object Panel2: TPanel
    Left = 0
    Top = 0
    Width = 780
    Height = 330
    BevelEdges = []
    BevelOuter = bvNone
    Caption = 'Merry Christmas'
    Color = 111111
    Font.Charset = ANSI_CHARSET
    Font.Color = clRed
    Font.Height = -96
    Font.Name = 'Old English Text MT'
    Font.Style = []
    ParentFont = False
  end
  object Panel1: TPanel
    Left = 0
    Top = 0
    Width = 780
    Height = 330
    BevelEdges = []
    BevelOuter = bvNone
    Caption = ''
    Color = 111111
  end
end
EndDialog>Dialog1
 
Show>Dialog1
 
ExecuteFile>%temp_dir%\Sparkler.scp
 
Let>WIN_USEHANDLE=1
  GetWindowPos>Dialog1.handle,Dia1X,Dia1Y
Let>WIN_USEHANDLE=0
Add>Dia1Y,165
Let>StartY=Dia1Y
Let>YFlag=1
Wait>0.3
 
Let>kk=0
Repeat>kk
  Add>kk,4
  If>Dia1Y>{%StartY%+20}
    Let>YFlag=0
  EndIf
  If>Dia1Y<{%StartY%-20}
    Let>YFlag=1
  EndIf
  Add>Dia1X,4
  If>YFlag=1
    Add>Dia1Y,8
  Else
    Sub>Dia1Y,8
  EndIf
  Wait>0.025
  If>Dia1X>40
    SetControlText>Sparkler,TEdit,1,%Dia1X%;%Dia1Y%
  EndIf
  SetDialogProperty>Dialog1,Panel1,Left,kk
Until>kk>750
 
Timer>Begin
 
GetWindowPos>Sparkler,SparkX,SparkY
 
Label>Loop
If>{%Dia1X%<%SparkX%+150}
  Add>Dia1X,1
EndIf
If>Dia1Y>StartY
  Sub>Dia1Y,1
EndIf
If>Dia1YDia1Y,1
EndIf
SetControlText>Sparkler,TEdit,1,%Dia1X%;%Dia1Y%
Wait>0.01
Timer>Stop
If>{%Stop%-%Begin%>5000}
  GoSub>Fade
EndIf
Goto>Loop
 
SRT>Fade
  SetDialogProperty>Dialog1,,AlphaBlend,True
  Let>Fader=255
  Repeat>Fader
    Sub>Fader,5
    SetDialogProperty>Dialog1,,AlphaBlendValue,Fader
    Wait>0.1
  Until>Fader<0
  Let>Fader=255
  SetDialogProperty>Dialog1,Panel3,Visible,True
  SetDialogProperty>Dialog1,Panel2,Visible,False
  SetDialogProperty>Dialog1,,AlphaBlendValue,Fader
  Wait>3
  Timer>Begin
  GetScreenRes>ScreenX,ScreenY
  While>{%Stop%-%Begin%<10000}
    Timer>Stop
    Random>100,Pct
    Add>pct,1
    Let>Dia1X={round(%ScreenX%*(%pct%/100))}
    Random>100,Pct
    Add>pct,1
    Let>Dia1Y={round(%ScreenY%*(%pct%/100))}
    SetControlText>Sparkler,TEdit,1,%Dia1X%;%Dia1Y%
    Sub>Fader,5
    SetDialogProperty>Dialog1,,AlphaBlendValue,Fader
    Wait>0.2
  EndWhile
  SetControlText>Sparkler,TEdit,1,Complete
  WaitWindowClosed>Sparkler
  Wait>1
  DeleteFile>%temp_dir%\Sparkler.scp
   
  Exit>0
END>Fade
 
/*
SparkleScript:
Let>size=200
 
OnEvent>key_down,vk27,0,Quit
 
SRT>Quit
  Exit>0
END>Quit
 
Dialog>Dialog2
object Dialog2: TForm
  BorderStyle = bsNone
  Caption = 'Sparkler'
  Color = 1
  TransparentColor = True
  TransparentColorValue = 1
  object Panel1: TPanel
    Left = 0
    Top = 0
    BevelOuter = bvNone
    Caption = 'Panel1'
    Color = 1
    TabOrder = 0
  end
  object Edit1: TEdit
    Text = '-1000;-1000'
    Visible = False
  end
end
EndDialog>Dialog2
 
Let>WIN_USEHANDLE=1
  MoveWindow>Dialog2.handle,-1000,-1000
Let>WIN_USEHANDLE=0
AddDialogHandler>Dialog2,,OnClose,Quit
SetDialogProperty>Dialog2,,ClientHeight,size
SetDialogProperty>Dialog2,,ClientWidth,size
SetDialogProperty>Dialog2,Panel1,Height,size
SetDialogProperty>Dialog2,Panel1,Width,size
SetDialogProperty>Dialog2,,AlphaBlend,True
SetDialogProperty>Dialog2,,AlphaBlendValue,0
Show>Dialog2
 
Let>halfSize={round(%size%/2)}
Let>85Per={round(%halfSize%*0.85)}
Let>15Per={round(%halfSize%*0.15)}
Let>ang2=0
Let>kk=0
SetDialogProperty>Dialog2,,AlphaBlendValue,255
Repeat>kk
  GetDialogProperty>Dialog2,Edit1,Text,vPos
  If>vPos=Complete
    Let>kk=-100
    Goto>Done
  EndIf
  Separate>vPos,;,Cur
  Sub>Cur_1,%halfSize%
  Sub>Cur_2,%halfSize%
  MoveWindow>Sparkler,Cur_1,Cur_2
  Add>kk,1
  Random>85Per,res
  Add>res,%15Per%
  Random>50,color
  Add>Color,45500
  Random>90,ang2
  Let>ang2=%ang2%*4
  GoSub>Angle,Dialog2,Panel1,ang2,%halfSize%,%halfSize%,%halfSize%,4,1
  Random>90,ang3
  Let>ang3=%ang3%*4
  GoSub>Angle,Dialog2,Panel1,ang3,%halfSize%,%halfSize%,%halfSize%,4,1
  Random>90,ang
  Let>ang=%ang%*4
  SetDialogProperty>Dialog2,Panel1,caption,space
  GoSub>Angle,Dialog2,Panel1,ang,%halfSize%,%halfSize%,res,2,color
  Label>Done
Until>kk<0
 
//Angle Usage:
//GoSub>Angle,Dialog,Object,Angle(in degrees),XStart,YStart,Length,PenSize,PenColor
//Requires Drawline subroutine
SRT>Angle
  Let>DegreeAngle=Angle_var_3
  Let>XStart=Angle_var_4
  Let>Ystart=Angle_var_5
  Let>LineLength=Angle_var_6
  Let>RadAngle={%DegreeAngle%*(pi/180)}
  Let>XEnd={trunc((cos(%RadAngle%))*%LineLength%)}
  Let>YEnd={trunc((sin(%RadAngle%))*%LineLength%)}
  Let>XEnd=%XEnd%+%XStart%
  Let>YEnd=%YEnd%+%YStart%
  GoSub>DrawLine,%Angle_var_1%.%Angle_var_2%.Handle,Angle_var_7,Angle_var_8,XStart,YStart,XEnd,YEnd
END>Angle
 
SRT>DrawLine
  LibFunc>user32,GetDC,HDC,%DrawLine_var_1%
  LibFunc>gdi32,CreatePen,Penres,0,%DrawLine_var_2%,%DrawLine_var_3%
  LibFunc>gdi32,SelectObject,SOPres,hdc,Penres
  Libfunc>gdi32,MoveToEx,mtres,HDC,%DrawLine_var_4%,%DrawLine_var_5%,0
  LibFunc>gdi32,LineTo,ltres,hdc,%DrawLine_var_6%,%DrawLine_var_7%
  LibFunc>gdi32,DeleteObject,DOres,Penres
  LibFunc>user32,ReleaseDC,RDCres,HDC_1,HDC
END>DrawLine
*/

Thanks to Dick Lockey for writing this little script (back in 2014).

Remember this?
Case Study: Macro Scheduler Saves 3600 Elf-Hours and Gets Presents Delivered On Time

November 21, 2018

Macro Scheduler 14.5 Available

Filed under: Announcements — Marcus Tettmar @ 8:43 pm

Macro Scheduler build 14.5 is now available for download from the usual places:

Registered Downloads/Upgrades | Trial Versions | New Licenses | Version History

This version adds an improved JSONParse function with improved JSON Path parsing and output of arrays for multiple matches. We’ve also added the long awaited ability to add custom headers to HTTPRequest; the ability to retrieve formulas with XLGetCell instead of just values; support for adding HTML format to the clipboard with PutClipboard and a bunch of other improvements and some small fixes.  For full details see the history list.

April 19, 2018

Macro Scheduler Subscriptions from only 12.50/month

Filed under: Announcements,General — Marcus Tettmar @ 8:40 am

Did you know we offer monthly, quarterly or yearly subscriptions for Macro Scheduler Standard?

These subscriptions have no minimum term, so can work out very cost effective if you only need the product for a short while. You may also prefer the budgeting aspect of fixed priced subscriptions over the up front cost of a perpetual license and then potential future upgrade or maintenance costs.  I know I do.

A subscription gives you access to the latest version of Macro Scheduler for as long as your subscription is active. So maintenance and upgrades are included and you never go out of date.

Check our the subscription options here.

 

Older Posts »