Automating repetitive tasks - Part 2

Kai Chandler looks at macros. Part Two of Two - Windows macros

In Part One we looked at how to create and use macros in Word and other Microsoft applications to automate repetitive tasks. But if you want to create them elsewhere, you'll probably need a third party tool such as the Windows keyboard macro program Keyboard Express 2000 from Oakley Data Services in Uttoxeter.

Costing under £20, Keyboard Express 2000 boasts up to 514 keyboard shortcuts ranging from <CTRL>A to <CTRL><ALT><SHIFT><END>. The idea is that you can store a set of keystrokes against any of these shortcuts. Press the combination of keys and the stored text is used as if you had typed it.

There's no end to the range of potential uses for Keyboard Express. For example you can use it to:

Paste your email address

Paste favourite web site URL

Paste a standard email to penpals from 'Hi there...' to 'Hope to hear from you soon!'

Paste a standard paragraph or phrase into a word processor

Replicate a frequently used command sequence

To use Keyboard Express 2000, you'll need to download and install by double-clicking the downloaded file.

To record a keyboard shortcut

1. Invoke Keyboard Express 2000 by holding the control key and right-clicking the mouse.
2. Select 'Add hot key' or press A
3. SeLect the keyboard shortcut (or hotkey) that you wish to use. Alternatively, just press the combination of keys that you want to use. Of course you should avoid using combinations that already have a function in your favourite programs such as <CTRL>V for paste. Next, select one of 'Enter Keystrokes', 'Capture Keystrokes' or 'Program Launch'
4. Use ''Enter Keystrokes' to type in the text of the macro - this is ideal for generating your email address or a standard piece of text.
5. Use 'Capture Keystrokes' to record a set of commands within a program. You can enter or capture up to 5,000 characters. If you want more, then just put the text into a text file and call that in.
6. Use 'Program Launch' to run a program on the computer with any appropriate parameters.

To use a keyboard shortcut

Whenever appropriate, use the keyboard shortcut to paste the macro text or to run the associated program.

There are some bells and whistles to make the program even more powerful. For example you can print a list of keyboard shortcuts for reference. Best of all is the scheduling facility which allows you to start a macro not by pressing the keyboard shortcut but by timer. You can run the macro at startup, hourly, daily, weekly or specify any interval. If daily you can select which days of the week. The uses for this are legion - perhaps to start an antivirus check of check for email.

Keyboard Express does not provide mouse support - it is limited to keyboard shortcuts. The good news is that Keyboard Express 2000 available as shareware so you can try before you buy.

Further information is available from www.smartcode.com/software.htm or www.keyboardexpress.com/www.keyboardexpress.com

Read Part one

 

Kai Chandler reviews top tools for family friendly surfing at www.surfcontrols.com