Quick macros allow you to automate very complex tasks, as well as create other scripts and programs. To simplify ongoing operations on a computer, users need keyboard macros. This is a list of commands, such as “press keys”, “launch file”, “click link”, and most other tasks that can be performed manually using the keyboard and mouse, so they can perform daily chores per person.
Macro Features
Quick macros can replace various utilities, startup applications, and other programs, reducing the number of installed programs and running processes. Macros allow you to:
- Manipulate windows. Activate, close, resize, move, get properties.
- File management. Run, open, copy, delete, find, get properties, zip. Automatically close pop-ups.
- Automatically populate dialog fields. Perform all actions when creating a specific window. There are macros for keyboard and mouse for launching programs, opening documents, folders and websites.
- Use the toolbar / menu to insert mail addresses and other frequently used text into the active window.
- Automation and interaction with web page objects without keyboard and mouse. Login, fill out forms, extract data, upload files, FTP.
- Get text from different sources: window, file, web browser, Internet, Excel, Sqlite database, registry, XML, CSV, INI. Processing, retrieving and sending data to another Excel window or file.
- Volumetric macro tasks for administrators keyboard: software installation, monitoring files, processes, logs.
- Manage services, file backup, shutdown, reboot, hibernation, computer lock.
- Carry out various software and web development.
- Test the software.
- Carry out conditional execution, repetition, error handling and other types of programming. Process text, user dialogs, use the dialog editor.
- Convert macros to programs that run on computers without QM.
Keyboard programming
A macro is a series of user-defined actions that the keyboard can execute repeatedly without any external help. They are usually useful when performing repetitive computational tasks that require a long sequence of clicks or key combinations. Various software tools and codes are available as open sources for users, which allows you to change or implement macros for the keyboard and stop them at any time.
There are times when the user needs to perform operations on the computer again and again, usually they are very laborious and tedious. For example, transferring large amounts of data from an Excel spreadsheet to a database management system (DMBS) when you cannot import them from an XLS file. Instead of hiring a team of people to enter data or a programmer to write a custom importer, you can automate the process based on special software for creating macros.
Software is used to create a series of automatic actions. To do this, record actions with the keyboard and mouse, or record your own complex script for playback. There is free and paid software for creating macros. Freeware is easier to use, but they have fewer features, while paid versions support more commands and activations that can cause your computer to perform extremely complex repetitive tasks.
Automation with Macro Dollar and WinMacro
Macro Dollar is a macro program, it was created about 10 years ago for "paid surfing", to click on the advertising panels installed on the PC, as it is capable of recording keyboard and mouse actions. Probably the most unique, but least used function found in the program is the “Shake” option, when the cursor trembles while recording, creating an imitation of the actions of a real person. The terms used in the Macro Dollar are slightly different from the rest, since this program was created in French. For example, a magazine is called Macro, and the script is actually a Scheduler.
WinMacro creates macros on the keyboard keys. The program is almost as old as the Macro Dollar, but it still works fine in Windows 7. It only takes 3 steps to write:
- View location to save file. Click Hardcoded Pause / Break.
- Play a recording. After viewing the file, click “Play”.
- Canceling playback is performed by Ctrl + Esc, and in the Settings tab, you can set the number of repetitions and the speed of execution.
Macros to End the Program Cycle
GhostMouse is an incredibly lightweight utility that allows you to create macros for your keyboard. On the main graphical user interface, there are only 2 buttons that are responsible for playback and recording. The program is more likely designed for short-term use, but not for automation of actions, since there are no functions of repeat or loop. One unique feature that can be found in GhostMouse is the execution of a sequence of actions, such as turning off the computer when playback is completed.
The Do It Again program has a major advantage - it is a list of macro records for performing various tasks that can be used without manual preparation and loading of scripts. For advanced users, there is another advantage - these are records that are saved as a .DIA extension stored in the program folder in text format, so the user can really edit his actions.
Mouse Macros
Mini Mouse Macro is a keyboard and mouse macro program, here you can create an open source macro located in SourceForge. In addition to being able to record mouse and keyboard actions, loop / repeat, it also comes with a simple editor to add / delete / edit captured actions. There is a mouse flag, and as soon as it is checked, the Mini Mouse Macro will enable mouse movement at the X and Y positions in the entry.
Determining the number of cycles is a little more complicated, for this you need to click on the word “Loop”, where a dialog box will be displayed, after which you can enter a value for the number of cycles. The command line is also supported and can be easily created from scripts found in the File menu.
The Mouse Recorder Pro program was developed by a talented young man named Shay from Israel. A quick look at the software interface gives the impression that this is another simple recording program, but it has much more features. Mouse Recorder Pro is very easy to use, thanks to 5 large buttons that can record, play, save and load recordings. The built-in macro editor allows you to add or remove events to fine-tune actions. The latest update, which was released 3 years ago, added support for user plug-ins, where they can create their own scripts using Visual Basic.Net to control the recording and playback script.
Perfect automation
Macro Toolsworks is a macro program for keyboards. It is included in the list of applications that are free, standard and professional. It is, in fact, a very powerful macro automation software that supports more than a hundred macro commands, such as variables, image search on the screen, sending mail, FTP, working with windows, etc. However, only the main macro commands, such as like keystrokes and mouse actions, are included in the free version, which makes it fairly simple software with an advanced interface.
Perfect Automation is a very powerful program that comes with a startup script editor, scheduler and, of course, a recorder for input devices. Suitable for both beginners and advanced users. Macro recording makes it easy to record automation, while programmers can create their own commands using the Gentee programming language.
The advantage of Perfect Automation is the ability to record mouse actions in relative coordinates instead of absolute, and the macro can work in the active window, even if it was moved to a different position on the screen. The editor has more than a hundred ready-made scripts to automate operations.
TinyTask Gadget
TinyTask is known for being the easiest macro software with an amazing size of 33 KB. With this file size, the user expects a simple application, perhaps with only two functions: recording and playback, but something more awaits him. This is a six-button program for opening and saving, recording, compiling a macro into an independent executable file. There are also options for changing the playback speed, repeat playback.
TinyTask is most convenient for ordinary computer users who do not want to use the macro editor. There is only one drawback - the TinyTask graphical user interface has a size of 137x48 pixels, which is a bit small for high-resolution monitors. Compatibility: Windows 98 / Me / NT / 2000 / XP / 2003 / Vista / 7/8/10.
Another mini-application - Mini Mouse Macro, is a small program. It helps to record mouse actions and keyboard input, and then plays them efficiently. It has an intuitive interface that makes it easy to use, even for beginners. The program has a portable version.
Before you make a macro for the keyboard, you do not need to install it, and therefore, you can simply add the executable file to the hard drive and run it from anywhere. You can also save this program to a USB flash drive so that it can work on any computer without a previous installation and with minimal effort. Compatibility: Windows XP / Vista / 7/8.
Macro Pulover
Pulover Macro Creator is believed to be the best version of the free macro software based on AutoHotkey. It is easy to use and has all the necessary functions, such as compiling to EXE, loops, editing macros, shortcuts to start / stop recording / playback, tuning, scheduler, acceleration, and most others. At the same time, what is very important is the low memory usage at work. During testing, the compiled executable macro uses up to 1.2 MB and does not increase the size during repeated playback.
Pulover's Macro Creator offers a built-in recorder, the ability to record inputs to its interface, and a wide range of automation commands. It not only records continuous keystrokes and mouse actions, but also tracks controls, searches for images, files, windows, strings and creates If / Else codes to control macro movement. In addition, it is easy to use and consumes very low memory. Compatibility: XP / Vista / 7/8/10.
Multi-clicker for Windows
AutoIt is a freeware program designed for Windows that helps speed up work efficiency and therefore allows you to complete tasks faster. It refers to a script file that performs many functions, such as starting DOS or Win applications. Carries out automation of mouse and keyboard movements, actions with windows, activation, minimization, hiding and much more. Speaking of its more complex macro functions for the x7 keyboard or other models, the program also automates clipboard tasks, changes registry entries, and performs string operations.
The best part of this program is the many automation options that it offers. It is extremely easy to use and greatly facilitates the application. Compatibility: Windows 2000 / XP / 2003 / Vista / Server 2008/7/8/10.
AutoHotKey Macro Recorder
If you need to automate keystrokes and mouse movements, it is best to do this with AutoHotKey. The program allows you to efficiently handle tasks, for example, print a home address or click on various web pages. Free open source software will help you write your own macro, either with the help of a user or with a macro recorder. This is not all, it allows you to create hotkeys for devices such as a mouse, remote controls, keyboard and joystick.
In fact, any of the keys can turn into a hotkey. In addition, there is a wonderful feature that allows abbreviations to expand automatically. Among others - the ability to adjust the volume, convert the keyboard or joystick to the mouse function, change the window in the "always up" mode, transparency or shape modification, organize menu items and icons according to the user's choice, and much more. Compatibility: Windows 2000 / XP / Vista / 7/8/10.
Mouse Recorder Premium is free software that allows you to create macros for your regular keyboard. This is a professional recording tool that helps automate repetitive tasks like a mouse click.
The program offers much more than just automation of mouse clicks and keystrokes. The user can monitor individual cursor movements on his monitor by placing macros for convenient analysis. The program allows you to restore the position of windows of recorded programs for free if they change, and much more. Compatibility: Windows Vista / Server 2008/7/8/10.
Mouse and keyboard actions in X11
GNU Xnee is not one application, but a set of tools that allows you to record, play and assign mouse and keyboard actions in the X11 environment, it is a kind of robot that can fully copy user actions. The program is used to test and display various X11 applications, assign macro recording and playback stages, re-enter a file, and can also play or assign execution of commands to more than two machines simultaneously.
The fact that Xnee is free, open source software makes it easy to modify to handle special tasks. It has a library, two applications, and a Gnome panel applet. Compatibility: WinXP / Win2003 / 2000 / Vista / Windows 7/8/10.