Schedule Overview

 

Scheduled Macros are macros that can be scheduled to play back at a specific time. Just set the schedule for the macro and it will play back unattended at the designated time. No need to press a hot key or click on an icon. The macro plays back at the selected time. In order for the macro to execute, Macro Express must be running in the background.

 

There are a number of scheduling options available. These are  briefly described below. Click on the links for more detailed information.

 

 

Schedule

Description

At Startup

At Startup instructs Macro Express to immediately execute the macro when Macro Express first starts up. If Macro Express is in the Start Up group, then this type of macro would play back when Windows first starts.

Once

Running a macro Once plays the macro back on one specific date and one specific time

Hourly

An Hourly macro runs the macro repeatedly at a specific time each hour.

Daily

A Daily macro runs the macro once each day on the days of the week selected.

Weekly

A Weekly macro runs once a week at the time specified.

Monthly

A Monthly macro runs at a specific time on the same day of the month each month.

System Idle

Setting the schedule with the System Idle option plays back the macro after the computer has been idle (no keyboard or mouse activity) for the number of minutes selected. This option allows up to 720 minutes after the computer has been idled.

When Specified Time has Elapsed 

This option repetitively runs a macro every XX number of minutes or seconds. The intervals can be between 1 second and 99,999 minutes, 59 seconds. If a macro is scheduled to run every 1 second and the macro takes 5 seconds to execute, then this function will not operate properly.

If planning to use macros that will run more frequently than every 10 seconds, first change the Scheduler Frequency default setting. The default instructs Macro Express to check every 10 seconds to see if a timed macro is ready to play back. This number must be reduced in order for scheduled macros to play back more frequently.

When Macro File Loaded

This option instructs the macro to play back when the macro file containing the macro is first loaded.

 

 

 

üNote: Screen Savers prevent a Scheduled Macro from operating correctly. Focus cannot be given to a program if a screen saver is running. Also, the security measures built into the "Lock Workstation" function of Windows prevent Macro Express from executing a macro.