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April 12, 2004

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Contents
1 – Macro Express v 3.5 is released
2 – Important Notice: File commands
3 – Updated TweakMe3 available
4 – Announcement: "Macro Express Explained" available soon
5 - User Submitted Macros
6 – Macro: Scan Banned Processes
7 - Tip: Delay starting Macro Express when Windows starts
8 - Tip: Reload Macro Express Preferences - Setting preferences
9 - Tip: Send mail via your email client
10 - Past issues of the Macro Express News


1 - Macro Express v 3.5 is released
Macro Express 3 version 3.5 has been released and is now available for download from our site at http://www.macros.com/download.htm. All licensed Macro Express 3 users can download and install this update without cost.

New Commands:
  - Move Mouse to Tray Icon command
  - Repeat with Processes
  - Get File Version
  - Variable Set From Misc
  - Reload Macro Express Preferences

Improvements:
  - Suspend / Resume Macro Express
  - Delay starting Macro Express when Windows starts (see below)
  - The Mute commands now work on Windows XP
  - The File commands have been updated. See important notice below

After installing Macro Express 3, you can click Start | Programs | Macro Express | What's New for a complete list of changes. You may also view the list of changes on the web by visiting http://www.macros.com/revise.htm.


2 – Important Notice: File commands

The File commands have been updated to be more consistent with one another and with the way Windows works. These commands now work faster and, in the case of the Copy File or Files command, can now handle more files without running out of memory.

Depending on how they are written, you may need to update your macros. The commands affected by this change are the Copy File or Files, Move File or Files, Delete File or Files, Rename File or Files, and Rename Folder commands. More information is available here: http://www.macros.com/faqs/filecommands.htm


3 – Updated TweakMe3 available
Available with this release is an updated version of TweakMe3 with new advanced options. It has also been rewritten and optimized to use new macro commands introduced in Macro Express v 3.5. Download TweakMe3 from http://www.macros.com/downmore.htm.


4 – Announcement: “Macro Express Explained” coming soon!
Macro Express Explained is a new book written about Macro Express by Joseph Weinpert of Professional Grade Macros. It has over 400 pages of information about how to use Macro Express.

More information about Macro Express Explained is available at http://www.macros.com/macexplained.htm.


5 - User Submitted Macros
It has been a few months since the last issue of the Macro Express News. During that time, we have received a number of User Submitted Macros that we want to include in this issue. Click on the links below to view information about these macros. Alternately, visit our shared macros page at http://www.macros.com/share.htm where all User Submitted Macros are listed.

Photoshop macros by John N. Lamoreaux http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umphotoshop.htm

Matching HTML tags by Matthew S. Reinsmith http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umhtmlmatchtags.htm

Macro to convert Decimal Numbers to Roman Numerals by Milton Shepperd http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umromannumerals.htm

Alert and Remind by Les Hazlett http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umalertandremind.htm

Easy Login by David G. Smith http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umeasylogin.htm

Determine the size of a folder by David Moen http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umsizeoffolder.htm

Escape from Help by Alan Cantor http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umescfromhelp.htm

Escape to Close by Alan Cantor http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umesctoclose.htm

Text Type shortkeys by Alan Cantor http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umtexttypeshortkeys.htm

Detect if a Macro Exits unexpectedly by Kore Peterson http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umheartbeat.htm

Date Macros by John M. Stethers http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umcurrdate.htm

Congratulations to John, Matthew, Milton, Les, David, David, Alan, Kore, and John! They all win a Macro Express T-shirt with the new, cool design.


6 – Macro: Scan Banned Processes
From time to time my family reports that our computer gets slow and unreliable with frequent lock-ups. Often, when I track down the cause, I find adware and spyware programs loaded on the computer that are known to make Windows unstable. I frequently find myself removing the same programs over and over again.

I wrote the macro Scan Banned Processes to help with this never ending task. This macro takes advantage of the new Repeat with Processes macro command to check what programs are running and to pop up a notification message if one of the banned programs is running. It even offers to terminate a banned process if found.

Scan Banned Processes by Kevin Heaton of Insight Software Solutions http://www.macros.com/usermacs/umscanbanned.htm.


7 - Tip: Delay starting Macro Express when Windows starts

We have had reports from some customers that Macro Express does not work when it is set to load when Windows starts but it works fine if it is loaded manually after Windows is up and running. In order to work, Macro Express interfaces with Windows using something called the Windows Hooks. The problem is caused when Windows tries to load Macro Express but is not quite ready to allow Macro Express to have access to the hooks.

If you are experiencing similar symptoms, use the new 'Wait for [ ] seconds' option found in Options | Preferences | Startup. This option tells Macro Express to wait a few seconds before establishing the interface to Windows. You will need to experiment with the number of seconds to enter here.


8 - Tip: Reload Macro Express Preferences - Setting preferences

When you are writing a macro, you may find that you need certain preferences to be set a specific way. How do you make sure that the preferences are set so that your macro will run properly?

First you need to determine where the preferences are located in the registry. To do this, use the new 'Set Variable %T1% to "Preferences Registry Key"' macro command.

Second, you need to change the setting in the registry. Use the 'Write Registry String', 'Write Registry Integer', and 'Write Registry Decimal' commands. You will have to use RegEdit and the Macro Express Preferences dialog to determine what registry settings affect which preferences.

Third, once you change the registry setting(s) you need to use the new 'Reload Macro Express Preferences' command.

Now you can write a macro to set the Macro Express preferences so your macros will work properly. Of course, all the normal warnings apply that say "Making incorrect changes to the registry could cause your computer to no longer boot up. Use with caution."


9 - Tip: Send mail via your email client

The E-Mail Send command sends an email message using the email client included in Macro Express. But, what if you want the sent message to be stored in your normal email client's outbox? Or, what if you are unable to send email using the SMTP server built into Macro Express?

You can use the Program Launch command to send an email message from your normal email client! Put the following into the Program Path/Name field in a Program Launch command:

mailto:kevin@wintools.com?CC=email2@email.com&BCC=email3@email.com&Subject=testing&Body=Body of the email message

Some of the parameters are optional and some parameters are not supported by all email clients (eg: BCC).

There is a limit on how long this command can be. When testing this, we found that the total size had to be less than 2048 bytes. But, the limit may be different on your computer. Determine the size by experimenting with different length messages.

This works with most current email clients but may not work with all email clients.


10 - Past issues of the Macro Express News

Are you a new subscriber to the Macro Express News email newsletter? Did you miss an issue? Past newsletters are available online at http://www.macros.com/newsletters/MENews.htm.


Comments and Suggestions
We welcome customer feedback. Let us know what you like and dislike about Macro Express. Send questions, comments and suggestions:

Insight Software Solutions Home Page:
    http://www.wintools.com

Macro Express Home Page:
    http://www.macros.com

Email:
    mailto:info@wintools.com

Mail:
    Insight Software Solutions, Inc.
    PO Box 106
    Kaysville, Utah 84037-0106


Thank you,
The Macro Express Development Team

 

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