June 11, 2025

Announcing – Macro Scheduler WebRecorder Extension – Beta

Filed under: Announcements, Automation, Scripting, Web/Tech — Marcus Tettmar @ 8:40 pm

Announcing the Macro Scheduler WebRecorder Chrome Extension. Old timers will remember the WebRecorder. Well it’s back. Kinda.

What is it?

A Chrome browser extension that records user interactions on web pages and generates Macro Scheduler automation scripts with Chrome WebDriver commands.

  • Records user interactions such as clicks, typing and form submissions
  • Generates optimized Macro Scheduler scripts with proper syntax
  • Supports Chrome WebDriver commands (ChromeStart, ChromeNavigate, ChromeFindElements, etc.)
  • Smart duplicate event removal for cleaner scripts
  • One-click script download

Beta Installation Instructions

Download here:

https://www.mjtnet.com/software/macro-scheduler-extension-1-5-7.zip

Since this extension is in beta testing and not yet published to the Chrome Web Store, you’ll need to install it as an “unpacked extension”:

Step 1: Extract the Extension

  1. Download and extract the macro-scheduler-extension.zip file to a folder on your computer
  2. Remember the location of this folder – you’ll need it in Step 3

Step 2: Enable Developer Mode in Chrome

  1. Open Google Chrome
  2. Click the three dots menu (⋮) in the top-right corner
  3. Go to More tools → Extensions
  4. Or directly navigate to: chrome://extensions/
  5. Toggle “Developer mode” ON in the top-right corner of the Extensions page

Step 3: Load the Extension

  1. Click “Load unpacked” button (appears after enabling Developer mode)
  2. Navigate to and select the folder where you extracted the extension files
  3. Click “Select Folder”
  4. The extension should now appear in your extensions list

Step 4: Pin the Extension (Optional but Recommended)

  1. Click the puzzle piece icon (🧩) in Chrome’s toolbar
  2. Find “Macro Scheduler Recorder” in the list
  3. Click the pin icon (📌) next to it
  4. The extension icon will now appear directly in your toolbar

How to Use

  1. Start Recording: Click the extension icon and press “Start Recording”
  2. Perform Actions: Navigate to any website and perform the actions you want to automate (clicking, typing, form submissions, etc.)
  3. Stop Recording: Click the extension icon again and press “Stop Recording”
  4. Download Script: Review the generated script and click “Download Script” to save it as a .scp file

Generated Script Requirements

Important: The generated scripts require Chrome for Testing to be installed on your system.

Beta Testing Notes

This is a beta version for testing purposes. Please report any issues or suggestions:

  • Extension behavior problems
  • Script generation errors
  • UI/UX feedback
  • Feature requests

This is early beta. And anyone who has ever dabbled with automating Chrome and websites will hopefully know how difficult it is to make one-size-fits-all rules. There are bound to be things this can’t automate. It might not always be able to find the best element selectors, or ones that are unique. So your mileage WILL vary. But we’ve tested a few thorny scenarios – frames, new tabs opening as well as forms and clicks and so far we’re happy with what it can do. Have a play. And drop your comments and feedback in the forums or drop us a line here.

Supported Actions

The extension currently records and generates scripts for:

  • Element clicks (buttons, links, etc.)
  • Text input (input fields, textareas)
  • Form submissions
  • Keyboard interactions
  • Focus events

Note: The initial page URL is automatically included when recording starts. Subsequent page changes should result from user interactions (clicks, form submissions) rather than manual URL changes.

Script Output Format

Generated scripts use Macro Scheduler syntax with Chrome WebDriver commands:

ChromeStart>session_idChromeNavigate>session_id,url,https://example.comChromeFindElements>session_id,css selector,input[type='text'],elementsChromeSetElementValue>session_id,elements_1,Hello WorldChromeElementAction>session_id,elements_1,clickChromeQuit>session_id

Troubleshooting

Extension Not Loading

  • Make sure Developer mode is enabled
  • Verify all extension files are in the selected folder
  • Check Chrome’s console for error messages (F12 → Console tab)

Recording Not Working

  • Refresh the page after starting recording
  • Make sure the extension has permission to access the website
  • Check that you’re performing supported actions (clicks, typing, etc.)

Script Generation Issues

  • Ensure you have recorded at least one action
  • Verify the recorded events appear in the extension popup
  • Try clearing and re-recording if the script appears empty

June 4, 2025

Introducing Macro Scheduler Agent — AI-powered help for your scripts (Beta)

Filed under: Announcements, Automation, Macro Recorder — Marcus Tettmar @ 9:16 pm

We’re excited to share an early Beta version of something we’ve been experimenting with here at MJT Net:

👉 Macro Scheduler Agent — an AI-powered web tool to help you write, improve, and troubleshoot Macro Scheduler scripts.

What can it do?

  • 📝 Explain a script — upload a script and get a plain English explanation, plus suggestions to improve it
  • 🕵️ Why doesn’t this work? — submit a script you’re having trouble with, and get ideas for what might be going wrong
  • 🤖 How would I automate this? — upload screenshots and describe what you want to automate
  • 🌐 Web form automation (experimental) — upload a CSV and a web form URL, and it will try to generate a script to fill out the form

Important caveats — this is Beta!

We’re calling this an experimental Beta for good reason:

✅ It’s an AI-based tool — results will vary
✅ It’s still learning — sometimes it will get things wrong
✅ It may suggest improvements, but they’re not guaranteed to be optimal
✅ For the Web Automation wizard in particular, success depends heavily on the structure of the form

Please treat this as a helpful assistant, not an infallible authority!
Always test any generated scripts before using them in production.

Who can use it?

Currently, access is limited to licensed Macro Scheduler users — it will check your email against our license database.
For now, it’s free to use for licensed users while we continue to develop and refine it.

Why are we building this?

Macro Scheduler users are an incredibly creative bunch, building automations for all kinds of applications and workflows.

We see the potential for AI to:

✅ Help users learn the language faster
✅ Speed up troubleshooting
✅ Provide inspiration for better automation techniques
✅ Bridge the gap for newer users

Try it out:
👉 https://agent.mjtnet.com/

We need your feedback!

If you try it out, we’d love to hear:

✅ What worked well
✅ What didn’t
✅ What else you’d like to see it do

This will help us improve it and guide future development.

Head over to the forums here:

https://forum.mjtnet.com/topic/20710

Final note

Again — this is Beta, experimental, and still learning.
It won’t always get things right — but we think it can already be a useful assistant.

Give it a go — and happy scripting!

March 15, 2025

Macro Scheduler 15.0.29 Available

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — Marcus Tettmar @ 11:58 am

Macro Scheduler 15.0.29 update is available.

  • Added: EDGEDRIVER_OPTIONS variable to specify Edge startup switches
  • Added: CHROMEDRIVER_DOWNLOADPATH variable to specify Chrome download folder (experimental)

This version applies some internal improvements for the Chrome/Edge automation functions and in particular allows you to set startup switches for Edge, and also set a download folder for Chrome.

The CHROME_DOWNLOADPATH option is particularly useful if you need to automate a routine which involves downloading a file with Chrome. It will avoid asking for confirmation and the file will be automatically downloaded to the specified folder.

Registered Downloads/Upgrades | Trial Downloads

September 19, 2024

Macro Scheduler 15.0.25 Update Available

Filed under: Announcements — Marcus Tettmar @ 9:09 am

Macro Scheduler 15.0.25 update is now available.

  • Added: ONERROR (custom error routine) capture added for complex if statements
  • Added: experimental TMSWebBrowser and TMSAcroPDF (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to be installed) objects to dialogs
  • Fixed: unable to get HTML property of HTMLViewer dialog object
  • Fixed: GetProcessIds not returning empty array if process does not exist
  • Fixed: GetWindowChildList missing from code builder

Registered Downloads/Upgrades | Trial Downloads

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

September 20, 2022

University Hospitals Dorset Saves Up to £15,000 Automating Maternity Healthcare Records with Macro Scheduler

Filed under: Success Stories — Marcus Tettmar @ 12:57 pm

University Hospitals Dorset (NHS) recently automated the transfer of data from their existing maternity records system into BadgerNet Maternity using Macro Scheduler.

BadgerNet Automation

The NHS trust was able to save significant time and up to £15,000 by using Macro Scheduler to perform the automation.

More details here.
Read the case study.

December 21, 2021

Macro Scheduler 15.0.20 Available

Filed under: Uncategorized — Marcus Tettmar @ 2:46 pm

Seasons greetings!

Last week we released Macro Scheduler maintenance update 15.0.20:

  • Added: ChromeGetWindows, ChromeSwitchWindow, EdgeGetWindows, EdgeSwitchWindow functions
  • Added: Copy Let assignment option to watchlist menu (creates Let>variable=value on clipboard)
  • Fixed: edge case with some strings not being quoted properly in variable expressions
  • Updated: changed PPI zoom cut-off for larger icons

Trial downloads | Registered Updates

July 19, 2021

Automating Windows 11 with Macro Scheduler

Filed under: Uncategorized — Marcus Tettmar @ 2:04 pm

If you are signed up to the Windows Insider program you can already try Windows 11. Here’s Macro Scheduler 15 running happily in Windows 11:

 

Automate Windows 11 with Macro Scheduler

November 12, 2020

Recording Excel macros for Macro Scheduler

Filed under: Uncategorized — Dorian @ 2:40 pm

Did you know that since v15 you can run Excel VBA macros from directly within your Macro Scheduler code? We’ve added a helpdesk article showing you how it works here.

May 27, 2020

Macro Scheduler, my lockdown assistant.

Filed under: Automation — Dorian @ 1:07 pm

The world has changed during the past 9 weeks or so, and some of the MJT staff have been putting Macro Scheduler to good use to help them during lockdown.

Soon after lockdown was announced people began panic buying, and grocery store delivery slots would all be claimed within moments of being released. For those of us with vulnerable people at home and no family nearby, our only hope was securing regular delivery slots – and buying a freezer! But with thousands of people competing for those rare delivery slots and all online appliance outlets completely sold out of freezers, it was an uphill battle.

But Macro Scheduler came to the rescue.

One simple automation script monitored a handful of web pages 24/7, refreshing every minute or so. It watched our local Supermarket looking for slots, and it monitored the white-goods stores waiting for any one of half-a-dozen freezers to be re-stocked.

A few days went by. No luck. Was this going to work? Would there ever be any slots? On day 6 I received a text on my phone – I’d been smart enough to use Zapier so Macro Scheduler would notify me via text wherever I may be.

A freezer had become available on the John Lewis website! We scurried over to the laptop and hurriedly clicked on the link. It’s no exaggeration to say our hearts were in our mouths. This was important! We didn’t even read the description. We just needed a freezer. Added it to our cart. Paid for it. Got the confirmation email. A few seconds later none were available again. We had successfully managed to purchase a freezer during the few minutes one online retailer had some.

Since then, over the past 8 weeks or so we used Macro Scheduler to tell us when those supermarket deliveries are available. They only pop up once or twice a day if we’re lucky – but when they do, we hear our little notification beep and off we run to the laptop and start shopping! It has been a Godsend, and it hasn’t failed us yet. Thanks to Macro Scheduler we top-up our little freezer every two weeks, and lockdown has been largely worry-free.

The process was simple. Here are some of the commands we used. IECreate, IENavigate to get us to the pages we were looking for and IEGetAllText helped us scrape the text from the page, then we used Position to see if the text we were looking for was, or wasn’t, on the page. All contained in a nice little loop, watching and waiting 24/7.

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