April 19, 2010

Macro Scheduler 12 Beta Available

Filed under: Announcements — Marcus Tettmar @ 12:33 pm

Having gone through a period of closed beta testing Macro Scheduler 12 Beta is now available to all registered customers. All registered users can log into their account and download the beta now.

Just a summary of some of the main new features:

  • Faster and more powerful custom dialogs with real time event handlers; improved Dialog Designer with access to more object properties.
  • Scripting Enhancements including: Native Excel functions, more string functions, local scope support, array functions, regular expression window matching for all window functions, improved image recognition and a new loop construct.
  • Multi-tabbed editing plus more editing features such as: remember code folding state, jump to subroutines, open files in new tab, integration with WebRecorder.
  • Debugger improvements: Variable value debugger breakpoints; search the watch list.
  • The ability to move and re-order macro groups, create linked groups for easier collaboration and point to other macro profiles. Import macros by dragging and dropping files onto Macro Scheduler.
  • AutoLogon for Vista/Windows 7 – schedule macros to run even when Windows is locked or logged out.
  • Custom Triggers: Create any kind of schedule trigger using MacroScript code.
  • Script Templates: Create new macros using supplied code or make your own templates.

This is just a summary. You’ll find a fuller list and release notes here. Please read the release notes before installing.

Please help test this version and report any issues to the Macro Scheduler Beta forum.

Questions:

When will the beta expire? The beta expires 30th June 2010.

So, when will Macro Scheduler 12 be released? All being well beginning of June 2010, possibly sooner.

And how much will it cost? Those with a valid maintenance plan will get v12 at no additional cost. Otherwise you will need to purchase an upgrade. Current upgrade prices can be viewed on our upgrade page. There are no plans to change these prices at this stage. If you have v11 but don’t have maintenance you can purchase it by logging into your account.

March 26, 2010

Coming Soon – Macro Scheduler 12

Filed under: Announcements — Marcus Tettmar @ 1:40 pm

box_done_12If you’re wondering why I’ve been so quiet of late it’s largely because we’ve been working flat out on putting the finishing touches to Macro Scheduler 12. A small group of beta testers are giving it a good workout right now and we should soon be able to open beta testing up to registered users, with a view to release in early June.

Here’s a quick round up of what exciting changes you can expect.

Faster and More Powerful Custom Dialogs; Improved Dialog Designer

The biggest change to Macro Scheduler is regarding Custom Dialogs. We’ve completely re-engineered the way custom dialogs work to give you access to more object properties while also improving responsiveness. We’ve added real-time event handlers so you can respond immediately to button clicks and other object events without the need for cumbersome “action loops”. You can get and set object properties immediately at any time. A new property editor in the Dialog Designer gives you access to all available properties and a visual menu designer means there’s no need to edit any code inside a dialog block.

So if you’re one of those people using Macro Scheduler to create user interfaces you’ll find you can customise your dialogs a lot more and make your dialogs much more responsive. Even if you only create the odd simple dialog you’ll find the new system is simpler.

  • More properties
  • More responsive
  • Real time object event handlers (e.g. button OnClick)
  • Enhanced property editor
  • Visual Menu Designer

Scripting Enhancements

But if you don’t care about Custom Dialogs there are many more scripting improvements. Version 12 offers an option to give variables local scope. We’ve added native Excel functions, process functions, array functions, more string functions, improved the screen image recognition functions, added 64 bit registry support, added RegEx support to window functions, and added system tray functions. We’ve addressed some issues sending keystrokes to old 16 bit apps and Citrix applications. A new loop construct has been added: While/EndWhile.

  • Local Scope
  • Native Excel Functions
  • Process Handling Functions
  • ArrayCount and ArraySort Functions
  • More String Functions
  • Improved Image Recognition Functions
  • 64 Bit Registry Support
  • System Tray Functions
  • RegEx Window Title Matching
  • While/EndWhile Loop Construct

Multi-Tabbed Editing

We’ve made even more improvements to the editor. We’ve added editor tabs so you can now open more than one script at once! Right click on a filename anywhere in your code (e.g. in an Include or Macro line) and open it in another tab. You can right click on a subroutine name – in a GoSub statement for example – to have the cursor placed on the corresponding Subroutine line. Variable breakpoints allow you to set debug breakpoints based on variable values. We’ve added a search bar to the watch list so you can find variables quickly. Code folding is now remembered between sessions. Better integration with WebRecorder: A button launches WebRecorder and outputs the code you record into your macro.

  • Multi-Tabbed Editing
  • Variable Breakpoints
  • Remembered Cold Folding
  • Open Files From Code
  • Jump to Subroutines
  • Integration with WebRecorder
  • Variable Search

Reorder Groups; Share Macros; Templates

In the main Macro Scheduler window v12 allows you to move and re-order groups using drag and drop. Quickly import macros by dragging .scp files from Windows Explorer into Macro Scheduler. Linked Groups allow you to share macros with colleagues by linking a group to a network folder and have new macros in that folder show up automatically. Quickly create a new macro from an existing one by right clicking and selecting “Duplicate to New Macro”. We’ve added templates. “File/New From Template” allows you to create a new macro from an existing .scp file.

  • Drag and drop macros
  • Duplicate macros
  • Share macros with Linked Groups
  • Resort/Reorder Groups via Drag and Drop
  • Templates

AutoLogon for Vista/Windows 7
Reliable AutoLogon for Vista/Windows 7/Windows 2008. Specify a username and password in macro properties and if Windows is locked or logged out when the macro is scheduled AutoLogon will log in to Windows, run the macro and then log out again. Note, we’re discontinuing AutoLogon support for XP which was problematic. Vista/Windows7/Windows 2008 offers a much safer, more reliable mechanism for performing an AutoLogon.

And that’s not all. Watch this space for updates.

Keeping Your Software up to Date – Get a Free Update
If you’re thinking about purchasing Macro Scheduler don’t hold off. If you purchase v11 now you’ll get a free update to v12 when it is released in a few months. If you have a maintenance plan, make sure it is up to date.

March 8, 2010

Screen Magnifier In Only 34 Lines of Code

Filed under: General, Scripting — Marcus Tettmar @ 9:46 am

Check out this screen magnifier, written by Dick Lockey in only 34 lines of Macro Scheduler code.   Paste it into a macro, hit run and then as you move the mouse around your screen you’ll see a 5x magnification of the cursor area.

Dialog>Dialog1
   Caption=5X Magnify
   Width=800
   Height=500
   Top=500
   Left=48
EndDialog>Dialog1
Show>Dialog1
  LibFunc>user32,GetDC,HDC1,Dialog1.handle
  LibFunc>user32,GetDC,HDC3,0

Label>Loop
  GetDialogAction>Dialog1,res1
  If>res1=2
    Exit>0
  EndIf
  GetCursorPos>CurX,CurY
  Sub>CurX,80
  Sub>CurY,50
  Wait>0.01
  LibFunc>Gdi32,StretchBlt,SBres,HDC1,0,0,800,500,HDC3,CURX,CURY,160,100,13369376
  GoSub>DrawLine,Dialog1.handle,1,0,390,250,410,250
  GoSub>DrawLine,Dialog1.handle,1,0,400,240,400,260
Goto>Loop

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

Yes, as Dick Says, you get one of these with Windows. But it’s kind of cool to see you can do the same thing with Macro Scheduler, and the code might come in handy elsewhere.

Enjoy.

March 4, 2010

Choose Your Web Browser

Filed under: General, Web/Tech — Marcus Tettmar @ 10:39 am

One of my Windows XP systems installed an automatic update last night when I shut it down.  This morning I was presented with this:

Windows EU WebBrowser Choice

As I understand it this is as a result of an EU competition law decision.   Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

On the one hand it seems a waste of money and illogical.

I’m no fan of IE, but why shouldn’t Microsoft build a web browser and make it part of their operating system?  Should the EU force them to offer a choice of text editors, calculators, paint programs and calendar applications too? Where should it end?

Plus, yet another dialog like this is surely going to confuse the ordinary user.  Many have no idea what a “web browser” is and just call it “My Internet” or “Google”.  The dialog preceding the one above has to go to the trouble of explaining what a web browser is.  And isn’t the user just going to take the first option anyway?  In which case should the EU force Microsoft to make IE8 something other than the default option?

But then if I were trying to sell a web browser I guess I would welcome this decision. It might give me a little extra exposure.

What do you think?

March 1, 2010

Convert raw VBScript .vbs files to Macro Scheduler Scripts

Filed under: Scripting — Marcus Tettmar @ 2:34 pm

As you probably know Macro Scheduler scripts can include Microsoft VBScript. Not only can you CALL VBScript code you can also pass values into it and retrieve values out of it (I’ve seen many competitors claim you can use VBScript in their macros when what they really mean is you can only call external VBScripts and not get results and data back).

This means you can take VBScript code and embed it into your macros. However, you may need to make some small modifications to VBScript code samples you find out there in the wild, and I’m often being asked how to do this.

Usually the only changes necessary involve the fact that many sample scripts are designed to run as standalone .VBS files and make use of the WScript object. This object is instantiated automatically by the Windows Scripting Host and offers methods like “Echo” and “Sleep” which you’ll often see in sample scripts. But in the case of Macro Scheduler VBScript is being hosted by Macro Scheduler, not the Windows Scripting Host, so WScript is not available.

Therefore anything starting with WScript will need to be removed or replaced with something else.

The most common one is WScript.Echo. This simply displays a message. When the VBS file is run on the command line the message is output to the command line. Otherwise it appears in a pop up message box. Most of the time in sample scripts it is just there as an example, so you can see the code working. You’d probably end up not wanting the script popping lots of message boxes anyway. But if you do you could replace it with MsgBox.

So, remove references to WScript and you should find you’re good to go.

Update: Macro Scheduler 12 (currently in beta) ships with a built-in WScript object which implements the Echo and Sleep functions. This means that Wscript.Echo and WScript.Sleep functions will continue to work and will not need to be removed to make the .vbs work in Macro Scheduler.

February 18, 2010

February 17, 2010

And The Winner Is …

Filed under: Uncategorized — Marcus Tettmar @ 11:44 am

Thanks to everyone who entered our T-Shirt design competition. I’ve really enjoyed seeing all the entries and it has been very difficult to pick a winner. All entries are excellent in their own right and there are some great slogans, creative designs and novel concepts.

I have a number of favourite designs and, personally, I found it very hard to choose an outright winner. But the consensus amongst all the judges was for this one:

includekitchensink

We all like the way this conveys the right message in a simple, elegant way. Ok, some die-hard Macro Scheduler techies pointed out that the syntax isn’t Macro Scheduler syntax. But I don’t think that matters (the syntax used is recognisable and we could change the syntax and the message and concept would remain the same).

So, congratulations to Meryl for winning an Amazon Kindle!

Commiserations to everyone else and I’m really sorry there isn’t a truck full of Kindles to give away, or I’d be dolling them out, because I really liked a lot of these entries.

I’ve posted a few of the entries for sale on the MJT Net Zazzle store.  I wanted to post more, but Zazzle wouldn’t give me the “Post for Sale” option on them.  No idea why.  If yours is one of them, and you’d like it added to the store, then maybe you need to edit something.  Let me know if you figure it out.

February 16, 2010

Seeking Industry Partners

Filed under: General — Marcus Tettmar @ 10:24 am

Are you a contractor, consultant, freelancer or value added reseller who knows and uses Macro Scheduler and works in a specific industry, like Health Care, Education or Manufacturing? If you are I’d like to hear from you.

I’m looking at opportunities for Macro Scheduler in vertical markets and would like to find people with industry experience who can add value and help us promote and support Macro Scheduler in their sector. We need help identifying the key systems and applications used in these markets and creating macros and solutions for them using Macro Scheduler.

It doesn’t really matter what industry you work in. Whatever your vertical market, if you’re a Macro Scheduler user with industry knowledge and the flexibility to explore opportunities, please get in touch.

February 5, 2010

FTP Uploader – Upload Files From Explorer

Filed under: Announcements, General — Marcus Tettmar @ 5:03 pm

Phil Pendlebury has written a really handy little tool for quickly uploading files from Windows Explorer, and he’s built it using Macro Scheduler.

With his FTP Uploader tool installed you can right click on any file and select Send To->FTP Uploader to quickly upload it to any FTP site.

It will remember the FTP server settings for you and you can choose which FTP settings to use. If the uploaded file has a public web URL the tool will also create the URL for you and put it on the clipboard. Handy for sending people links to file, or uploading images and other files for use in forums.

FTP Uploader

You can download the tool and get the source code here.

I’m often uploading files to our FTP server to send to people, instead of relying on Email attachments. This tool will make short shrift of that. Thanks Phil!

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »