Macros

All the TexNotes Pro keyboard Macro facilities are available from the Tools menu.

This facility enables you to record a series of keystrokes, and mouse movements and clicks, so that you can replay it. This is useful when you want to insert the same text over and over again, or to create shapes in a drawing.

Use these options to control exactly how macros are recorded and played back. The usual defaults are illustrated below.

Use this when you are ready to create a new macro.

A Save file dialog box is then displayed. (See Simple Example below for detailed instructions.)

You must be careful when recording a macro. Every key you press and every mouse movement is recorded. Make sure your keep all activity within the TexNotes Pro window. It's always a good idea to close any other Windows programs (especially those that use a lot of memory) that may be running before starting the recording process.

Use this when you have created some macros, and wish to play them back.

The dialog box which then opens, shows all the macros currently placed in the folder:
C:\Program Files\GemX\TexNotesPro\Macros

Use these options to control exactly how macros are recorded and played back. The usual defaults are illustrated below.

Imagine, that for reasons known only to themselves, GemX has decided that in this Rough Guide, the name (or string) "TexNotes Pro" should be both reformatted and changed to TextNotes Pro. This would seem to be a very time-consuming (not to say boring) task. Unfortunately, it is not possible to use Find and Replace in the Search menu to make substitutions that involve formatting. Fortunately, it's not very hard to create a Macro that makes this task a lot easier, less-error prone, and far quicker than manually finding and changing every occurrence.

Remember that it's always a good idea to close any unnecessary Windows programs that may be running before starting the recording process.

Begin by making a test macro. Open a new Note, and type in the string "TexNotes Pro" twice, surrounded by some meaningless lines of text. Include an example of the correctly-formatted string before the "meaningless text". Like this:

TextNotes Pro

xxxx xxxxxx xxxx x x xx xxxx xxxxx xxxx x xxxxxxx

TexNotes Pro

x xxxxx xxx xx xxxxx xxxxx xx xxxx xxx xxxx

x xxx xxxx x x xx xxxx xxxx x xxxx x xxxxx xx

xx xx xxxxxx xx xx x x xx xxxx xxxxx xxxx x xxx xxxx

TexNotes Pro

xxx xxxx x x xx xxxx xxxx

This macro involves Quick Search, so make the sure the Quick Search toolbar is visible. Type (or Paste) "TexNotes Pro" into the Find box, but don't press any of the buttons.

Position the cursor at the start of the "meaningless text". Select Create and Record New Macro from the Tools menu.

1. In the Save file dialog box, type a suitable name like Test1, and save the file.
2. Click Record in the Confirmation dialog box, and check that the A Macro is Recording message box is displayed.
3. Select the formatted string TextNotes Pro, and Copy it to get on the clipboard.
4. Move the cursor to the Find Next Match button, and click it. (Or press [F3].)
5. When the string TexNotes Pro is selected (highlighted), press [Ctrl+V] to Paste the formatted string.
6. Press the [space bar] once.
7. Press [Ctrl+Break] to end recording.

Strictly speaking, Step 6 "Press the [space bar] once" is not necessary, but many power users have learned that it's good practice to always end these types of macros like this to avoid problems.

Test your macro. To do this, use Open and Play Macro from the Tools menu.

Test your macro again before using it on a "real" document.

This is, of course, a very simple macro that merely demonstrates the principles involved in macro creation.