You can schedule macros to run at a time that is most convenient for you. You can schedule a macro to run hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly automatically without user intervention. Or you can schedule a macro to execute when a special system event happens.
You can link a macro to a button or shortcut key on your device for quick access. In addition, MacroPlay can run your macro at various speeds to accelerate your pen tap actions. You can also run a macro using voice commands (with the addition of a 3rd-party app).
This version is for devices running PalmOS 5.x. If you have an older OS, you need MacroPlay for OS 4.
If you have the file "mp5pro-XXX.zip", you have bought the registered version of MacroPlay Pro.
If you have the zip file "mp5litedemo-XXX.zip" or "mp5prodemo-XXX.zip", you have the demo version. The demo version is the same as the registered version, except that it will work for only 7 days.
If you have a demo version of MacroPlay currently installed in your device, and you have bought the registered version and wish to install the registered version, please use these steps.
If you are upgrading from an old registered version, please use these steps.
After installing the registered version, start MacroPlay and you will be prompted to enter your registration code.
If there is any problem in using the registration code, please contact XVision.
Do keep your REGISTRATION CODE for future reference. To get to the Registration screen, you can select Menu->Info->Register.
Please note, if you do not register and unlock your copy, you cannot access the full functionality of MacroPlay.
If your device is running PalmOS 4.x or 3.x, you will need MacroPlay for OS 4. You can obtain this at XVision's website, http://XVisionNow.tripod.com.
Here are some typical uses for macros:
MacroPlay currently only supports recording and replaying of single pen taps. A single pen tap is touching the stylus/pen on the Palm screen and then lifting the stylus/pen up from the same contact point. MacroPlay supports double pen tap since a double pen tap consists of 2 single pen taps.
This current version of MacroPlay does not support pen writings. Therefore it does not support the Graffiti. If you use the pen to draw a line across the screen, MacroPlay will only record down the start and end points. During replay, 2 pen taps will be replayed, rather than a line draw.
Now learn the steps for recording a macro.
Please note that you cannot create a macro which involves MacroPlay. This is because starting MacroPlay will stop any ongoing recording.
The first column from the left contains the diamond-shaped bullet. This bullet is used for changing the display order of the macros in the list. You can tap and hold to drag a macro to a different position in the list.
The second column is the name of the macro. Tap on the name to start the playback of the macro.
The right most column contains a square-shaped icon. Tap on this icon to display the properties of the macro.
If a macro has an active schedule, another column will appear. A clock-shaped icon will appear next to the macros with an active schedule. Tap on this icon to show the schedule details.
Please note it is advisable to refrain from tapping, drawing or touching the screen during replay. Wait for the macro to finish playing before touching the screen. In addition, if an alarm display is triggered and shown during macro playback, the playback will be disturbed, resulting in unexpected results.
Tip: You can use voice commands to run your macros if you have installed Voice Call which is compatible with MacroPlay.
You can change the playback speed of this macro. Each macro can have a different playback speed. When the macro is first created, the speed is set to normal.
A normal speed means that the timing between the pen taps used during recording will be reproduced during playback. When a macro is time-sensitive, like waiting for network response while downloading data, you will need to replay the macro at normal speed.
Tip: Most of the time, you should use the normal speed when you are accessing the internet or reading emails. This is because you need to take into consideration of the delay in network response. Downloading content requires time. So, if you speed up the playback speed, you will not give the network enough time to respond.
You can increase the default playback speed to accelerate the pen tap actions. Tap on the popup trigger "Playback Speed" to set the speed. "2x" means that the playback speed is 2 times the normal speed.
Please note that setting the Playback Speed too high may cause a macro to fail during playback. For example, if your macro contains pen taps on the built-in "soft" keyboard", a very high playback speed will lead to improper macro playback as the taps on the keyboard will not be registered by the OS. Therefore you need to experiment to determine the best playback speed for your macro.
You can link a macro to a Button or a Shortcut. With this link, when that Button is pressed or the Shortcut is entered, the macro will be executed. You choose the Button or Shortcut in the Shortcut field.
To activate a Shortcut, you do it in the same way as entering a menu shortcut in Palm. You first enter the Graffiti command keystroke, this displays the command toolbar. You then enter the number/letter you have assigned for the Shortcut.
Tip: If you have a Treo device, you can also activate a Shortcut by pressing the menu button followed by the number/letter you have assigned for the Shortcut.
Each shortcut can only be linked to one macro. If you select a shortcut that has already been linked to another macro, the shortcut will be linked to the current macro and the other macro will not be linked to any shortcut.
If you want to power off your device after the macro has completed executing, please select this checkbox.
Tap on the Schedule Macro button to show the schedule details for this macro.
Tap on the Copy button to make a copy of this macro. The Main screen will appear showing a new macro with the exact same name. You can then go to Macro Properties to rename it. You can also set a different schedule for this new macro. Please note that the Copy action will not copy the schedule. This Copy action helps you to create different schedules for the same series of pen taps (or key presses).
Tip: Changing the display order of the macros allow you to place frequently-used macros at the top of the list. Then when you see the macro list in the Main screen, you can access your frequently-used macros with a single tap without scrolling.
Tap and hold on the diamond-shaped bullet. The selected row will be highlighted. Drag your pen to the desired position. Lift up your pen and the selected row will be placed in the new position.
Moving a macro is exactly the same as moving a Memo item in your Memo application.
You can run a macro automatically at a certain time, without any user-input from you, by creating a schedule for the macro.
There are 2 ways to display the macro's schedule. You can tap on the Clock-shaped icon in the Main screen. Or you can tap on the Schedule Macro button in the Properties screen.
To create a schedule based on time:
You can also schedule a macro based on certain event.
Tap on the Macro Properties button to display the macro properties. Tap on the Main button to show the Main screen.
After scheduling a macro to be run in a future time, the macro will be played automatically when the time has come. No user intervention is required.
Please note that during the replay of the macro, you should refrain from touching the screen so as not to interrupt the playback. In addition, if an alarm display is triggered and shown in the midst of a macro playback, the playback will be disturbed, resulting in unexpected results.
If the palm device is off, it will be powered on to execute the macro. If you want to power off the palm after the execution of a scheduled macro, please see set Auto Off in macro properties.
If the Attention Dialog is shown, all the Attention items will be snoozed to clear the screen and execute the macro. You can return to your Attention items after macro completion by tapping on the blinking Attention Indication.
If Keyguard is enabled in your device, it will be bypassed so as to execute the macro. If your device is locked, it will be unlocked automatically if you have set the Unlock Preferences.
A scheduled macro will not be triggered and played if a macro is being recorded or a macro is currently playing.
If you scheduled more than 1 macro to run at the same time, then only 1 macro will be played, the remaining macros with conflicting time will not be played. Hence, do not schedule macros to the same time. If you want to run a macro after another macro, set the schedule time of the second macro to a time after the first scheduled macro has finished execution.
You can check what tasks are executed by viewing the log. Bring up the menu bar on the Main screen and then tap on the Info -> View Schedule Log item to see the log. Each line of the log shows the date, time and task name that the task is executed. The log also records tasks that are not executed because of time conflict. A '--' symbol in front of a line means that the name task is not executed at the recorded time. Thus viewing the log can tell you if you have any conflicting tasks.
If the device is locked and off, it needs to be unlock before a scheduled macro can be executed. If you have locked and turned off your device, and you want a schedeuled macro to be able to execute during power off, you will need to set the Unlock Preferences.
You access the Option -> Unlock Preferences by opening the menu bar at the Main screen.
If Unlock is disable, no scheduled macros will be executed when the device is locked and off.
Enter the password you set in the built-in Security app into the Unlock Password field. MacroPlay uses this supplied password to unlock your device.
This Unlock capability of MacroPlay only works with the built-in Security app supplied by Palm. If you use other 3rd-party security app to lock your device, MacroPlay may not be able to unlock the device properly.
These databases will be back-up automatically when you hotsync your palm. They will appear in your palm backup folder.
If you wish to use your macros in another palm device with MacroPlay installed, you can install "MacroPlayer_Data_xxxx.PDB" into the second palm device. Then all the macros you created in the first palm device will be copied to the second device, replacing any existing macros in the second device.
Please send all comments to j_ixe@hotmail.com.
Thanks for your support,
Johnny Ixe
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Under no circumstances shall he be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from the use, misuse, or inability to use this software, even if he has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
You may not re-sell this product in any way, shape or form. It also may not be used for commercial purposes without written and signed consent from the author, prior to it's use. Purchase gives you a license for use on only one PalmOS device at a time. You may NOT freely distribute the purchased version. You may not reverse engineer, de-compile, modify or change the software in any way. The source code and the resulting application are owned solely by the author.