MacroPlay for OS 5 v10.1

Copyright 2001-2003 Johnny Ixe
10 July 2002

http://XVisionNow.tripod.com

CONTENT


DETERMINING YOUR VERSION

If you have the file "macroplyXXX.zip", you have the registered version

If you have the zip file "mpdemoXXX.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 like it, you can purchase it from http://XvisionNow.tripod.com.


INTRODUCTION

MacroPlay allows you to record your pen taps. Each recording is called a macro. After creating a macro, you can run the macro and replay the pen taps whenever you want to perform the same task again.

You can schedule macros to run at a time that is most convenient for you. You can schedule a macro to run minutely, 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.

This version supports PalmOS 5 and above. If you have an older OS, you can use MacroPlay v9.x. This can be found on XVision's website.


WHAT'S NEW

Ver 10.1

HOW TO INSTALL OR UPGRADE

Use the correct installation instructions depending on what version of MacroPlay you have currently in your palm now.

If you do not have any version of MacroPlay installed, and you want to install the demo or registered version 10.x, use these steps.

If you have demo version of MacroPlay installed, and you want to install the registered version 10.x,use these steps.


REGISTRATION

If you have the registered version, you will need to enter your registration code first. Start the app and you will be prompted to enter your registration code. Your code is made up of 5 digits.

If you bought from PalmGear, you will receive an email from PalmGear about your code within 48 business hours of your purchase.

If there is any problem in using the registration code, please contact PalmGear Customer Support.

Do keep your REGISTRATION CODE for future reference.

Please note, if you do not register and unlock your copy, you cannot change macro and schedule properties.


MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

MacroPlay supports Palm OS 5 and above.

If you have an older OS, you can use MacroPlay v9.x. This can be found on XVision's website.


WHAT IS A MACRO?

If you perform a task repeatedly in Palm, you can automate the task by using a macro. A macro is a series of pen taps (single or double) that you group together as a single command to accomplish a task automatically. Instead of manually performing a series of time-consuming, repetitive pen tap actions in Palm, you can create and run a single macro - in effect, a custom command - that accomplishes the task for you.

Here are some typical uses for macros:


CREATE A MACRO

Creating a macro includes recording the pen taps, and setting the macro properties.

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.

Tip: You can enter letters and other characters using the on-screen keyboard supplied by Palm. You activate the on-screen keyboard by tapping on the "abc" icon in the Graffiti area. You enter text by tapping on the keyboard. MacroPlay will capture this series of pen taps during recording and then replay it properly.

This current version does not support physical button presses. Physical button presses are not recorded. Therefore do not use them during recording. Only pen taps on the screen are recorded.

Now learn the steps for recording a macro.


RECORD A MACRO

These are the steps to create a new macro and to start recording.
  1. Start MacroPlay from your app launcher.
  2. Tap on the New button.
  3. Choose the application to be associated with the new macro from the pop-up list. Tapping on the pop-up trigger will show all the applications that are present in your device. The app you select will be launched when you press the Start Recording button. After the macro is created, the selected app will be launched everytime this macro is played. So, if you want to create a macro for the Memo app, you should select Memo Pad in the app list.
  4. Provide a name for the macro. The name can consist of any character, including space. It can be long as well. Please provide a descriptive macro name so that you can remember the task that this macro is to perform.
  5. Tap on the Start Recording button. If no name is supplied, recording will not start. If a name is supplied, the selected app will start. From this point onwards, all pen taps will be recorded.
  6. Perform your task using pen taps. The timing between each of your action will also be noted and stored in the macro. So,for example, if you wait for 2 seconds between 2 pen taps, this 2 seconds delay will be reproduced during the macro playback.
  7. To stop recording, press the Power button. This will bring up MacroPlay with the newly created macro shown on the Main screen.

Please note that you cannot create a macro which involves MacroPlay. This is because starting MacroPlay will stop any ongoing recording.


VIEW CREATED MACROS

After starting MacroPlay, the first screen you will see is the Main screen. In this screen there are at least 3 columns.

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.


REPLAY A MACRO

  1. Start MacroPlay. The names of all recorded macros are shown on the screen.
  2. Tap on the macro name that you want to replay. The macro will start running immediately.
  3. The macro will be replayed at the speed set by the user in the Properties screen.
  4. Please note that after the macro replay is done, you will NOT be returned to MacroPlay.
  5. You can stop the replay at anytime by pressing the Power button.

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.


SET THE MACRO PROPERTIES

You can view/change the macro properties by tapping on the square-shaped icon on the main screen.

Name

You can change the name of the macro. A name is required.

Playback Speed

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 to too high may cause a macro to fail during playback. For example, if you are using OS4.0 and the macro contains pen taps on the built-in "soft" keyboard", a too high playback speed will lead to improper macor playback, the taps on the keyboard will not be registered by the OS. Therefore you will need to experiment with a suitable playback speed for your macro.

Shortcut Link

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, follow by another Graffiti character for the shortcut number.

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.

Schedule Macro

Tap on the Schedule Macro button to show the schedule details for this macro.

Delete Macro

Tap on the Delete Macro button to delete a macro. You will be asked if you want to continue with the deletion. Answer Yes to delete the macro.

Main button

Tap on the Main button to return to the Main screen.

CHANGE THE DISPLAY ORDER OF A MACRO

You can change the display order of your macros by using the diamond-shaped bullet in the Main screen.

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.


SCHEDULE A MACRO

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:

  1. Select Time in the When field.
  2. Select the time to run the macro.
  3. Select the start date of the task. This the date that the task will first be executed.
  4. If you want to repeat the execution of the task, tap on Repeat. This will show you the Change Repeat window. In this window, you will specify the repeat interval for the task. This is similar to creating a repeating appointment in your built-in Date Book application.
You can also schedule a macro based on certain event. You can schedule a macro to execute after a HotSync operation is finished. Select the When field and choose "After HotSync". Or you can choose "After Reset" to run a macro after a soft reset. Each event can only be linked with one macro. If you link an event to a new macro, the previously-linked macro's schedule will be changed to none.

Tap on the Macro Properties button to display the macro properties. Tap on the Main button to show the Main screen.


EXECUTION OF A SCHEDULED TASK

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, refer to the company's website,http://XVisionNow.tripod.com, for the MacroPlay FAQ.

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.

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.


UNLOCK DEVICE FOR SCHEDULED MACRO

If the device is locked and off, it needs to be unlock before a scheduled macro can be executed. If you have locked and power 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.


HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT

Please visit the website http://XVisionNow.tripod.com to read the MacroPlay FAQ. This FAQ contains tips and tricks on using MacroPlay.

DATABASES CREATED BY MACROPLAY

MacroPlay will create 3 databases when it is executed. They are:

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.


UNINSTALL


COMMENTS

Checkout http://XvisionNow.tripod.com for updates and more information.

Please send all comments to j_ixe@hotmail.com.

Thanks for your support,
Johnny Ixe


HISTORY OF CHANGES

None

SOFTWARE DISCLAIMER

While the author makes every effort to deliver high quality products, he does not guarantee that his product is free from defects. His software is provided "as is," and you use the software at your own risk.

He makes no warranties as to performance, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or any other warranties whether expressed or implied.

No oral or written communication from or information provided by him shall create a warranty.

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.