Reading pixels has become extremely slow in Vista when using the new function "Windows Aero". That means that the commands {{WaitForScreenChange and {{FindPattern are virtually useless with Windows Aero.

Solution: Using Version V6.7. In this version these commands work also in Aero Glass Mode.

Installing:

During installing the question: "A file is not newer. Do you want to keep this file ?" appears several times. Just click the recommended Yes.

Other effects:

Windows Vista got some new forms e.g. File selection. Therefore the old workflows sometimes do not work any longer. They need to be adapted to the new workflow.

There are even forms which do not have the focus after the open. Then a mouse click needs to be inserted into the macro.

In Windows Vista it is no longer possible recording key strokes and mouse clicks in a browser (e.g. Internet Explorer). (Reason: Measures against viruses and Trojan horses which want to do password pishing). To be able recording mouse clicks anyway, the menu: 'Insert' / 'mouse entry' was added. For entering key strokes change to another window e.g. Notepad, or enter the text in the Recorder edit window.

Another side effect of this restriction is, that the pause/stop hotkeys do not work if the focus is on the browser.

The Clipboard works slower in Windows Vista. Therefore after a ^c (CTRL C) a delay (e.g. 100 ms) is often necessary before a command like {{SetVar1 {{ClipBoard} can be used. Without the delay often the old clipboard value is used. In version V6.1 (and later) a small delay is already built in, that means with this and following versions the problem should not appear.

2 Problems with MS Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) and higher

Question:

Windows update installed automatically IE7 on my PC. Since then I have problems with some macros. What can I do ?

Answer:

Microsoft’s new browser causes some new problems. Here a list of the problems and possible workarounds:

The new IE7 has another title: Windows Internet Explorer instead of Microsoft Internet Explorer. That means {{Switch and {{RelativeMouse commands for IE7 do not work any longer.
- You need to change the Window name in the macros. For new recordings you can change the Rel Window Filter.
The new IE7 uses the function: ‘Clear Type’ This function changes the look of characters. That way Commands like {{GetPixel or {{FindPattern do not work properly again.
- You need to define the pixels or the recorded patterns new.
Some text fields are acting very strange in IE7. When entering a text the first characters are ‘forgotten’ (are not written).
- You can use {{SetClipboard and then CTRL v for entering text. Sometimes this helps. You can also try the new text mode: {{SedTextSpecial. (Please consult the help for restrictions)

3 Does the Recorder contain adware or spyware ?

Question:

My spyware scanner recognizes the Mouse and Key Recorder as spyware. Does the Mouse and Key Recorder Installation also install other programs ?

Answer:

Some spyware scanners identify the recorder incorrectly as spyware. The reason for that is, that the recorder uses for recording the keystrokes the same components (OCX) as many keyloggers.

We promise: The Mouse and Key Recorder installation will never contain anything else than the pure Mouse and Key Recorder.

4 Installation fails: Needs multiple reboots

Question:

I want to install the Mouse and Key Recorder. The installation asks for a reboot. After rebooting and restarting the installation it asks again for a reboot… again and again and again… What can I do to be able to install the Mouse and Key Recorder ?

Answer:

There are several possible reasons for such a behavior. Often files, which need to be updated, are locked by other running applications. Therefore try to close all running programs before you install the Recorder. (Also the ones in the System Try, [lower right hand corner of the screen]). If this does not help (because not all programs could be closed) then you should install the Recorder in protected mode. To get into the protected mode, click F8 at the beginning of Windows booting. For more information about this topic see the following Microsoft page:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q191096&

5 SAP does not accept the keystrokes

Question:

I'm trying to send text into SAP-Fields but had no luck. SAP/R3 don't show me characters sent via recorder...

Answer:

SAP seems to use very special techniques for their Graphical-User-Interface (GUI). The Mouse and Key Recorder puts it's keystrokes into a message pipe. If an application catches the keystrokes already at keyboard buffer location it will not get the keystrokes. (Reading the buffer is a very uncommon and not recommended way of catching keystrokes.)

You can try the following trick:

Copy your text to the clipboard and put it to your SAP window by CTRL v.

{{Mouse 1, 1, 59, 352, 0

{{SetClipbaord MyText

This might work, depending where SAP is catching CTRL v.

You can also try the function: {{SendTextSpecial}

6 I get a run time error stating comdlg32.ocx is missing

Question:

I get a run time error stating, that comdlg32.ocx is missing. What can I do ?

Answer:

By installing and de-installing Visual Basic applications it can happen, that something goes wrong. (Wrong file, wrong Registry entry.) See the following addresses for possible solutions:

http://www.pbdr.com/vbtips/gen/cdlg32er.htm

http://www.snapfiles.com/help/missingfiles.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;192461

7 I get run time error 424 or error 5 when I start Recorder

Question 1:

I tried to install the Mouse and Key Recorder on my Windows NT 4.0. During the Installation I got some errors. Afterwards I got Run Time Error 424 when I tried to start the Recorder. What can I do ?

Question 2:

I want to use the Recorder on many PCs in our company (I have a site license) On some Windows 2000 and Windows XP I get a run time error 424 or run time error 5. When I give the users Administrator rights then it works. But this is not allowed in our company. What can I do ?

Question 3:

I get a Run time error 5 also as administrator. What can I do ?

Answer 1:

The Mouse and Key Recorder needs a Microsoft Internet Explorer V5.0 or higher on the PC where you install the Recorder. Most PC contain a modern IE, but especially Windows NT which came without an IE often contains no IE or an old IE.

Other reasons for error 424 can be errors during installation, or access rights problems.

Measures:

- De-installing Recorder, rebooting, closing all programs, installing Recorder with administrator rights.

- Grant your own account administrator rights.

Answer 2:

During initialization the Recorder reads existing 'Scheduled Tasks'. If the C:\Windows\Tasks directory is access protected for the actual user or if the 'Scheduled Task' parts have an error then the Recorder crashes when it tries to read the tasks.

For changing the access rights see:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/de/library/ServerHelp/3be8b68f-f83c-409b-8b97-f026f75e17ca.mspx

(Be careful with this command, communicate with your IT first)

For patches for the 'Scheduled Task' parts see:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;812400

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;830924

If you are not allowed to change the access rights then ask Krat-Tronic Corp. for an improved Recorder version which will not crash during start. (even with no access right). Contact:

http://www.kratronic.com/tools/contact/kratronic-email.html

The next Recorder version (V5.6) will not crash any more if 'Scheduled Tasks' are protected or defect.

Answer 3:

Often a corrupt component on the PC is the reason. On one PC the following helped: The Recorder was installed on drive C: By installing it on Drive D: the run time error 5 disappeared…..

8 I get run time error 13 when I start Recorder

Question:

When I want to start the Recorder Run Time Error 13 appears. After that the Recorder does not work properly.

Answer:

Run Time Error 13 can be caused by the language settings. The following might help: Go to the control panel, there to the 'Regional and Language' settings. In the advanced tab you find a setting for non-Unicode programs. Change this to English.

Another reason can be a wrong entry in the Registry. This can be mended by removing (deleting) the following key in the Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\MouseAndKeyRecorder. After that the Recorder starts like new installed (but macros are not deleted).

9 My HotKeys do not work

Question:

I have defined some hotkeys (CTRL ALT SHIFT a, b c…) and I have activated: 'Use Macro Hotkeys'. But, what I ever try the hotkeys do not work. What is wrong ?

Answer:

It is important you have switched off 'Caps Lock'.

When you define a hotkey e.g. CTRL ALT SHIFT a, and you press CTRL ALT SHIFT a, and 'Caps Lock' is on, then this macro is not started.

10 I can not make my scheduled macros run (Scheduled tasks)

Question:

I set up Scheduled Tasks according to the manual. But the macros do not work. What is wrong ?

Answer:

The manual V5.2 contains wrong parts…. here the corrected chapter:

Hints:

The Mouse and Key Recorder uses the built in Windows function "Scheduled Tasks". Therefore for Windows 95 and Windows 95 at least Internet Explorer V4.0 is necessary for using this function.

Windows NT, 2000 and XP would allow to run the 'Scheduled Tasks' even then when nobody is logged in, or to run under another Windows user. For most macros this is not possible, because for sending mouse clicks and key strokes a visible window is necessary. (Scheduled tasks run in the background without a visible window if nobody is logged in, or if they run under a different user). Macros without mouse clicks and key strokes can run in the windowless background.

Security thoughts

As mentioned earlier on, the PC needs to be in a logged in state, if a macro e.g. at midnight has to run. It is also not possible to use a password protected screen saver, because the Recorder cannot unlock it. (For security reasons CTRL ALT DEL can just be entered by a real keyboard) That means the PC is open all night for all who have physical access to the PC.

A specialized screen saver can be downloaded from the following address:

www.kratronic.com/tools/recorder/sw/ScreenLock/ScreenLock.zip

This screen saver protects the PC reliably, but it allows the Recorder to unlock it, and to lock it again after the macro has run.

Small disadvantage: During the macro run the PC is open. But this cannot be avoided, since the Recorder acts as a simulated human being sitting in front of the keyboard and mouse.

The remaining chapters in the help are correct and can be found there.

11 The E-Mails sent to Kra-Tronic are coming back

Question:

I tried to contact Kra-Tronic Corp. by E-Mail. But my E-Mails come back with the comment: Invalid address. Why that ?

Answer:

The reason for this problem is spam.... I need to have e-mail addresses on the web. Spammers harvest these addresses and send me all their rubbish. Without any action I get about 50 spam mails a day.... So I regularly change my e-mail addresses on the web (as soon as a spammer has harvested one). That means you always have to use the newest address you find in my homepage... To make sure you get the real newest address press F5 (reload) before you use the e-mail address.

Sorry for the inconveniences. And please support any Anti-Spammer-Activities.

12 I cannot install the Mouse and Key Recorder

Question:

I tried to install the Mouse and Key Recorder on my Windows XP Professional. I got a message: 'Setup can not continue because some system files are out of date on your system'. Well, I clicked 'update', but after the required reboot the same message appeared. That means I cannot install the Mouse and Key Recorder. What can I do ?

Answer:

This can happen if "wrong" versions of certain files are on your PC. In one case it was the file hhctrl.ocx which caused the problem. The solution was: Double-clicking Recorder.cab (after unzipping the Mouse and Key Recorder zip file). Extracting hhctrl.ocx and copying manually to C:\Windows\System32. (Or C:\WinNT or the name your windows system directory has.) On Windows 98, ME the path is: C:\Windows\System. Now the installation works.

13 Is there a site for example macros ?

Question:

Lots of people are writing Mouse and Key Recorder macros. It would be nice if there were a site for example macros. That way the 'wheel' has not to be invented by everyone again.

Answer:

There is no such site. But there are some sample macros to the end of the FAQ page. If you have written a cool macro of common interest please send it to me. The e-mail address you can find in:

www.kratronic.com/tools/recorder

I will add the macros to this page. By the way, the manual contains also some example macros.

Keep in mind: During the installation the file „RecTest.zip“ was installed to the directory you have chosen for the Mouse and Key Recorder. You can extract the files in RecTest.zip archive to the directory C:\RecTest. The macros you find there have been used to test some aspects of the Mouse and Key Recorder. The macros are written that way that they should work on all Operation Systems and all languages. Simply start the macro: „RTestMaster.krc“. If you have extracted the files to C:\RecTest then all macros should be called automatically.

14 How do I install the Mouse and Key Recorder ?

Question:

I have downloaded the Mouse and Key Recorder. What do I have to do with the downloaded 'MouseAndKeyRec.ZIP' file ?

Answer:

The Mouse and Key Recorder is stored as *.ZIP file. (MouseAndKeyRec.ZIP) This ZIP file needs first to be extracted. You can find a very good ZIP Tool at:

http://www.winzip.com

After downloading and extracting 'MouseAndKeyRec.ZIP' simply start the file: Setup.EXE.

Before you re-install the ‘Mouse and Key Recorder’ or before you upgrade it to a higher version you should de-install the old ‘Mouse and Key Recorder’.

Procedure: Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove Program and choose Recorder in the white field. Then click Add/Remove.

Hints: Your macros will not be deleted by the de-installation.

15 One of my macros runs unreliable

Question:

I have recorded a macro. This macro sometimes runs well, sometimes it makes wrong things. What can I do ?

Answer:

The reliability of a macro depends on various things.

Speed: Without any change a macro runs at near maximal speed. This is much faster than the fastest human user. As long as just keystrokes are used, the Mouse and Key Recorder waits for the execution of each keystroke. If you use mouse clicks and commands, the Recorder speed can be faster than the PCs reaction. That way clicks might be missed and the macro gets 'out of sync'. An easy way to mend this is to use a large Line Delay. But that way the whole macro becomes slow. The better way is to include {{Delay commands at the right locations.

Screen-Situation: When you record a macro a certain situation is present on your screen (some windows are open, Buttons are at certain locations…). To have a reliable macro it is recommended to test the necessary preconditions in your macro. Examples:

Test if a window exists. (if not, then start the application)
Maximize a window (to be sure to click on the right location)
Test existence of an import file
Use one of the {{WaitFor… Commands to wait for certain situations (just using a {{Delay is not so good… If the situation occurs too late, your macro is again 'out of sync')

For even more hints see the chapter 'Working with the Mouse and Key Recorder / Important Hints' in the Mouse and Key Recorder help.

16 {{Switch does not find my modal window

Question:

I updated to V5.0. Now one of my {{Switch command does not find a modal window any more. What can I do ?

Answer:

The Mouse and Key Recorder V5.0 uses a new kind of switching command. The old command often did not find windows if not the whole name was delivered.

So I built in a new command. But switching is a tricky business… During the search for windows I filter out all windows in the tool window (small icons in the right lower corner) and all not visible windows. Modal windows often are not visible when you use ALT TAB. Therefore they often can not be found. I could remove the above filters, but then too many windows would be found and if the part you are looking for is not a visible window, you would think, the command does not work at all. In a normal situation when you have 5 windows open there are in reality 34 windows present…

What can you do?

V5.0 contains a command to switch back to the old {{Switch command. It is called: {{UseOldSwitch. That way also V5.0 can find these strange windwos. Switching is also used by the commands {{SwitchOrStart, {{CheckWindow and {{RelativeMouse.

17 {{Switch minimizes my target window

Question:

I have created a shortcut for starting one of my macros. To have the Recorder minimized from the beginning I have set the shortcut to minimized. If I carry out a {{Switch in my minimized Recorder the target window is also minimized (or normalized if it was already minimized). What can I do to avoid this effect ?

Answer:

This effect is caused by the new switch command built into V5.0. The old switch command used an old VisualBasic function. Because Windows has changed over the years, this function was not any longer powerful enough to force all windows up. (In Windows 2000 it is not any longer easily possible to force a window to the foreground. Reason for this was the misuse of this function by countless programs. This let to the situation, that when you where e.g. writing a letter suddenly a window came up (maybe because of a new e-mail which arrived). By writing your letter you unintentionally answered the question in the window, without knowing what you had answered…..)
To force a window up in Windows 2000 or later, a trick must be used. (Attaching Threads). This powerful trick brings nearly all windows up, what is definitely necessary for a Mouse and Key Recorder. Because of the "married" threads not just the switching is done, but also the size is inherited by the bound thread.
The Mouse and Key Recorder V5.0 still contains the old switching command. The command: {{UseOldSwitch changes to the old switching technique. The old Switching does not have the mentioned effect.

18 How to use {{WaitForFocus

Question:

I have a question about the WaitForFocus commands. I can't figure out how it works. I want to wait for a submit to finish, display a new screen and press complete on the new screen.

I insert a "waitfor focus" command in the macro, but I don't understand what it is waiting for and how I correctly use it. I have studied the manual, but still don't understand. Please help.

Answer:

Well, I'll try to explain it in easy words.
The command {{WaitForFocus allows to wait for an windows object like a window or a button.
Let's do an example.
Open the Recorder. Open also Notepad manually (Start | Run | Notepad.exe). In the Notepad click File | Open. In the new window click on button Open (to set the focus on this button. The button gets a dashed frame.) On the Recorder click menu Insert / Focused Object / Wait For Focus. Within 3 seconds change to notepad by using ALT TAB. The recorder asks now for a timeout. Set it to 100 and click ok. You get the following macro: {{If {{WaitForFocus 322, 478, 75, 23, 100, 3, 3, 3, 3} = {{True};;{{ShowError}. Add the command {{Beep to the macro (Insert / Command / {{Beep). Close the Open window of Notepad. Replay your macro. Nothing happens now, just the timeout is counting down. In the Notepad click now File | Open. In the new window click on button Open. At this moment you will hear a beep. That means the Recorder has now sensed the right focus and continues..
That means to use this command you first must create the focus situation and record it. Then during macro run the macro will wait until this focus situation appears or the timeout time runs out.

19 Mouse clicks do not click any more during replay

Question:

The recorder has stopped replaying mouse clicks, although they get recorded alright. It used to work, and all other recorded actions still work.

Answer:

One reason could be, that you recorded your mouse-clicks in mode: Suppress mouse clicking for single clicks and drags. Such commands contain an 1 at the end of the command. Example:

{{RelativeMouse Microsoft Internet Explorer, 1, 1, 58, 61, 1.

To record real clicks set back the this mode by clicking menu Tools / Options / Recording and there switch off 'Suppress mouse clicking for single clicks and drags'. (This mode is also resetted when you close and reopen the Recorder.)

To 'repair' your macro you can exchange the 1 at the end of the command to a zero:

{{RelativeMouse Microsoft Internet Explorer, 1, 1, 58, 61, 0.

20 How to compare text from Excel cells ?

Question:

I need to "read" 20 cells in an Excel column. The last column contains the word END. I copy the cells by CTRL c and compare them in the Mouse and Key Recorder using an {{If. But, whatever I do, the word END is never recognized.

Answer:

Comparing text copied from Excel cells is a little bit tricky. A text copied from an Excel cell to the clipboard contains always a carriage return and a line feed at the end of the text. To compare this in an {{If statement you need to use a string variable. Example:

{{SetString1 END{{CR}{{LF}

{{If {{ClipBoard} = {{String1} ;OK-Action;False-Action

21 How to use tab as a separator in import files

Question:

I need to import a list of goods by using the command {{DoImport. My list uses as separator a tabulator character. How can I use this character in the command {{ImportSeparator ?

Answer:

It is not possible to define a tabulator character as separator for {{DoImport. But.. if your list stems from Excel you could create a .csv file which uses a semicolon as separator. Or you use Microsoft Word for replacing the tab to another character e.g. §

22 Mouse clicks containing a coma in the win. name do not work.

Question:

I use a program with a window name: Windman 98, Lakota Ridge. Recorded relative mouse clicks to this window do not work. What can I do ?

Answer:

The Mouse and Key Recorder uses comma in the mouse commands to separate parameters. If the window name contains a comma, the wrong parameters are used. Recommendation: Use just the part before the comma for the window name. Another possibility is to use the relative window filter. (You would enter Windman 98 there)

23 {{String2} in the middle of the line is not working

Question:

I use the following command:

{{String1}: Member of department {{String2}

The output contains just String1, the rest is not given out. What is wrong ?

Answer:

Output-commands located at the beginning of a line must not be followed by text or other commands. The above line will work when you rewrite it the following way:

{{String1}

: Member of Department

{{String2}

Exceptions:

· Commands needing parameters. Example:
{{RandomNumber {{Var1}, {{Var2}}

· Commands within a text line. Example:
Mr. Miller works in department {{String2}

24 {{Loop is not working

Question:

I have added a command {{Loop to my macro. But my macro is still running just once. What do I wrong ?

Answer:

The command {{Loop is not a Loop-construct like in VisualBasic. To repeat a macro you need to set the number of repetitions in the edit-window 'Loops' at the bottom of the Mouse and Key Recorder Window.

The command {{Loop is just used to output the actual Loop number. (Number of repetition)

Hint: You can also use {{GoTo for creating a loop.

25 Macro Abort is often difficult

Question:

When I test macros, I often need to stop a macro fast. If I use mouse clicks, this is often very difficult. An abort hotkey would be handy.

Answer:

There is such a hotkey… Alt Pause/Berak. On notebooks often you need to add the Fn key.

26 VirusScanner reports a trojan horse

Question:

My Virus scanner 'LockDown v7.0.0.6' reports the trojan horse "WinWhatWhere - Spy.b" for the file: "DWSPY36.DLL", when I use the 'High scan sensitivity' mode.

Answer:

LockDown uses generic techniques to find new, unknown trojan horses. This technique sometimes shows wrong alarms. The file "DWSPY36.DLL" from

· www.desaware.com

I deliver in the Mouse and Key Recorder V4.0 is still the same I've got when I bought it 1998. That means the file "DWSPY36.DLL" is clean and you can use the Mouse and Key Recorder without any fear.

27 Changes for Version V7.0

Question:

Which changes have been made for version V7.0?

Answer:

The following changes have been made for version V7.0:

Changes

Development language has changed to Dot.Net
Keystroke logging removed
Support for Win 98, ME and 2000 removed
{{StartAndWait changed behavior
{{Calc: Changed, new and removed commands
Hotkeys and recording are now combined

Improved

{{SendTextSpecial+: Allows special characters output
{{WaitForTime: Improved flexibility
{{RandomString: Vowel dominant random strings added
{{If: Allows more than one command in the Then/Else parts
{{DeleteDir: Deletes also not empty directories
Editor font can now be changed

New

{{LockUI: Locking mouse and keyboard during Macro run
{{FileAttrib: Setting file attributes
{{CreateSerialTime: SerialTime of a certain date/time
{{AddSerialTime: Adding days, hours, minutes..
{{CopyDir: Copy full directories
{{HDFreeSpace: Shows free hard disc space
{{HDUsedSpace: Shows used hard disc space

The document: Recorder-Delta-EN-V6.7-7.0 shows all changes.

27a Changes for Version V6.7

Question:

Which changes have been made for version V6.7 ?

Answer:

The following changes have been made for version V6.7:

New function:

{{PCIdle. (Shows the PC idle time)

Improvements:

{{FindPattern is now seven times faster and works also with Aero Glass Mode.
{{WaitForScreenChange works also with Aero Glass Mode. ReplaceBraces.exe is now built in as a command.
{{CreateDir can create a whole tree at once.
Tab: Scheduled Tasks adapted to Windows 7.

27b Changes for Version V6.6

Question:

Which changes have been made for version V6.6 ?

Answer:

The following improvements have been made for version V6.6:

{{CopyFile allows wildcards now.
{{ScanDirectories stores number of found files.
Converting of special characters like {}.
{{StartAndWait and {{SetClipBoard use quotations marks correctly.
{{Sort: No crashes anymore if lots of variables are sorted.
{{Exit: Variables are stored also when {{Exit is used.

28 Changes for Version V6.5

Question:

Which changes have been made for version V6.5 ?

Answer:

The following improvements have been made for version V6.5:

{{FileSize. This command reads the size of a file in byte.
{{FindPattern: A preview for small areas has been added.
Variables are now stored in RAM during macro run. This speeds up the macros and avoids conflicts which sometimes appeared.
{{Calc. This command allows carrying out mathematical operations in a much easier way than before. 130 additional mathematical commands have been added like: sin, tang, square root, factorial, date/time functions, arithmetic mean.. etc.
{{SetIEFocus: More reliable solution.

29 Changes for Version V6.4

Question:

Which changes have been made for version V6.4 ?

Answer:

The following improvements have been made for version V6.4:

{{ShowPattern. This command shows all defined patterns zoomed.
{{ResetLogFile. This command copies the actual LogFile to a backup file and deletes the actual LogFile.
{{ImportNextLine has a new parameter. This parameter allows jumping to a certain line in the import file.
{{FlashBox postion is now stored to the Registry.
{{Master macros: At the end of a Master macro the master macro is loaded again. (This is handy in case of using {{LoadMacro)
{{WaitForTime - Correction: After a stop before time is reached, the macro does not run on further anymore.
The macros are not any longer sometimes unnecessarily marked as unsaved.
LogFile access works now on all operating systems.
AlwaysOnTop stays even after minimizing the Recorder.

30 Changes for Version V6.3

Question:

Which changes have been made for version V6.3 ?

Answer:

The following improvements have been made for version V6.3:

{{FindPattern Memory Leak removed. This leak caused a Recorder blocking after some thousand {{FindPattern passes.
{{Windows Vista problems with saving variables corrected. If lots of variables were changed in a fast pace, write-errors or even program crashes happened.

31 Changes for Version V6.2

Question:

Which changes have been made for version V6.2 ?

Answer:

The following improvements have been made for version V6.2:

Commands {{ScanDirectories, {{Gobub added
Command {{ClipBoard0 added (no conversion of {})
Command {{Date- changed to {{Date
Manual improved (Examples added)
Two Recorder can now access GlobVars simultaneously also on two-core PCs.

32 Changes for Version V6.1

Question:

Which changes have been made for version V6.1 ?

Answer:

The following improvements have been made for version V6.1:

Commands {{WindowsAeroOn, {{WindowsAeroOff added
Command {{GetAeroState added
New Mouse Entry added (to overcome Vistas restrictions in Browsers)
Command {{KeyDownTime added
Command {{ReadHotKeys added
Command {{FindPattern extended
Command {{WaitForKey extended
Option added: Insert Commands in alphabetic order.

Corrections:

{{Asc for emty stings corrected

33 Changes for Version V6.0

Question:

Which changes have been made for version V6.0 ?

Answer:

The following improvements have been made for version V6.0:

Command {{SendTextSpecial added
Command {{SendTextNormal added
Command {{WaitForKey added
Command {{SetLoop added
Command {{DebugOn, {{DebugOff added
Option -RECORDMOUSE added.

Corrections:

SerialTime internationalized
Very large macros can now be interrupted in case an error appears.
NumLock corrected

34 How to interact with a macro

Question:

I have many photos that I need to place a message on, but, they are of various sizes with different places to put the message. I need to pick out the photo from a list that is presented and place the message with the mouse click. How can I do this?

Answer:

There are two ways for such an interaction.

1. You add a {{Stop} to your macro. When your macro stops you go to your graphic application window and you select the file from the list. Then you press 'continue'. The macro must contain a {{Switch command after the {{Stop}.

2. Add a {{Beep} and then a {{Delay 5000 to your macro. When you hear the beep you have 5 seconds time to place the cursor (or to select your item), before the macro continues.

There are also other possibilities. If you need to choose files you can use the command {{DownLoop to address always the next file during the loops.

Another way is to create a file list by the DOS command: Dir /b > C:\MyList.txt. This file can then be used with {{ImportFile and {{DoImport to open the right graphic files.

In version V6.2 or higher you can use the new command {{ScanDirectories

35 Infinite Loop

Question:

I need to run an Infinite Loop. Can this be done?

Answer:

You can use a very high Loop setting (99'999). If this is too less you can use a {{GoTo command at the end of your macro and jump to the begin every time you macro is reaches its end. That way it is really infinite.

36 Can not paste to certain windows

Question:

For our testing environment, we regularly initialize the Oracle system, entering a select group of data as our starting point. I want the recorder to help enter this data into Oracle. The script works fine if I paste to a Word Processing program, but does not work with the Oracle screens. The general-delay-mode clearly shows input focus on the Oracle screen but the paste does nothing. Interestingly, if I stop the script, I am able to manually paste the data into the Oracle screen. Any ideas?

Answer:

The Mouse and Key Recorder uses a function in VB called SendKeys to simulate keystrokes. The characters are copied to a certain buffer normally filled by the keyboard itself. If a target program uses very special methods to catch the keyboard strokes, it might be it does not recognize the new values in the keystroke buffer.

Another reason could be that your Oracle window is a DOS-Window. As described in the manual the Mouse and Key Recorder is not able to write directly to DOS windows. For writing into a DOS Window you need to use the option {{SendTextSpecial}

37 Switching to windows with a space in the name

Question:

The Mouse and Key Recorder doesn't change focus when I want to replay the keys I've recorded. I used {{Switch and entered enough of the name of my window as to be unique, but the Recorder says it cannot find it. I even entered the entire name of the window and still your utility could not find it.

The window name is long: " WatcherPlus - Version xx.xx.xx ABC: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx " and begins and ends with spaces.

Answer:

The {{Switch and the {{SwitchOrStart commands remove all leading and tailing spaces in the window name. Reason: To avoid an error if the user uses two spaces after the command.

The version V3.2 (and higher) contains a new command: {{KeepSpace. If this command is placed before the {{Switch or {{SwitchOrStart command, all spaces are kept.

38 Hiding / Closing the Mouse and Key Recorder

Question:

How can I hide the Mouse and Key Recorder during run ? How can I close the Mouse and Key Recorder after it has finished ?

Answer:

You can hide the Mouse and Key Recorder by starting a macro using an icon (example: C:\Programs\Recorder.exe C:\Data\MyMacro.krc). In the icon properties set the windows size to minimized.
The Mouse and Key Recorder contains a command called {{Exit. This command closes the Mouse and Key Recorder.
A third way is to use the command {{Minimize.
V4.3 supports also the command line option: MKRMinimize.

39 Changing names in windows titles

Question:

I just downloaded your program to attempt to automate turning on and off cookies.

But I cannot figure out how to SWITCH to Netscape. Using Alt-Tab,

Netscape has a variable or varying Title or Application name. What appears depends on the URL. For instance, now the title bar for Netscape has "Mouse and Key Recorder - Netscape" (your site).

But if another site is visited it might have "WSDOT - Snow and Pass - Netscape".

Answer:

You can use a part of the window title, as long it is unique. Here you would use 'Netscape'. As long as you have just one Netscape open, the Mouse and Key Recorder finds your window. Sometimes also the dash (- Netscape) is needed. You might need to experiment what Windows accepts.

40 Does the Recorder contain a GoSub function ?

Question:

I often need to repeat the same sequence during one macro. So I'm looking for a GoSub. There is a GoTo in the Mouse and Key Recorder but I can't find a GoSub.

Answer:

The command GoSub was added in Version V6.2.

In earlier versions you could use the following example as a substitute for GoSub:

"{{SetVar1 1

{{GoTo Subroutine

{{Label GoOn1

{{SetVar1 2

{{GoTo Subroutine

{{Label GoOn2

{{Goto End

{{Label Subroutine

{{MessageBox Subroutine call no {{Var1}

{{goto GoOn{{Var1}

{{Label End

{{MessageBox Macro ends

","","GoSub Example","50","0","00","00",#TRUE#,#FALSE#,"1"

41 Mouse and Key Recorder as DLL

Question:

I would like to know if the functions of the key recorder also exist in a DLL. I would like to use it within another application.

Answer:

The Mouse and Key Recorder is built in VisualBasic. Therefore it is not possible to convert it into a DLL. What you can do is calling the Mouse and Key Recorder by CommandLine from your application.

42 Mouse and Key Recorder on a remote Server

Question:

Is there a way to execute the macro file on a PC that is not loaded with

Mouse and Key Recorder? We are making some simple changes to an existing terminal Emulation program and have the macro file doing the work for us. Is there a way to copy this macro, (and program) to a remote server and have our end users execute the macro with just a click?

Answer:

Unfortunately this is not possible. The Mouse and Key Recorder needs certain DLLs in the system directory to be able to run. That means the Mouse and Key Recorder must be installed if you want to run a Mouse and Key Recorder macro.

You might consider using VB-Scripting for this requirement. The VB Scripting Host is always installed on Windows 2000 and on all 32 bit Windows versions containing Internet Explorer 5.

43 How to create a Mouse and Key Recorder icon ?

Question:

The Mouse and Key Recorder manual mentions the creation of an icon for using the command line function. How exactly do I create such an icon ?

Answer:

Click on your PC desktop with the right mouse key and choose New and then Shortcuts. An icon wizard is started. Fill in the command line as described in chapter 'Command Line Function'. Example: "C:\Program Files\RECORDER.EXE" "C:\My Documents\MyMacro.krc". Choose a proper name for your new icon. After finishing the icon wizard, click with the right mouse key on the new icon. On tab Link enter your desired hot key combination and the state of the Mouse and Key Recorder after starting (minimized, normal).

44 Random DoImport

Question:

After using {{ImportFile is there a way to use the {{DoImport command to select a random line in a text file instead of one line after each other ?

Answer:

There is no direct command for your requirement. But you could do the following:

"{{1}{{ImportFile c:\john.txt

{{SetVar1 {{RandomNumber 1, 10}

{{SetVar2 0

{{Label Start

{{IncVar2 1

{{SetString1 {{DoImport}

{{If {{Var1} = {{Var2};;{{Goto Start

{{String1}

{ENTER}

","notepad","","50","0","00","00",#FALSE#,#TRUE#,"1"

File John:

Line1,Line2,Line3,Line4,Line5,Line6,Line7,Line8,Line9,Line10

With V6.4 and later the following is possible:

"{{ImportFile c:john.txt

{{ImportNextLine {{RandomNumber 1, 10}

{{DoImport}

{ENTER}

","notepad","","50","0","00","00",#FALSE#,#TRUE#,"1"

File John here:

Line1

Line2

Line3

Line4

Line5

Line6

Line7

Line8

Line9

Line10

45 Sample Macros

In the Mouse and Key Recorder Help you can find additional examples.

(Chapter: Macro Examples)

45.1 Waiting for a text change in an Internet browser

{{SetString1 xx123xx67
{{Label Start
{{Delay 1000
{{RelativeDragMouse YourWebSite - Microsoft Internet Explorer, 1, 1, 457, 551, 0, 224, 551, 0

{{' Adapt the {{RelativeDragMouse to your needs !
^c
{{If {{ClipBoard} = {{String1} ;{{Goto Start;

{{SetString1 {{ClipBoard}
{{Beep {{' Here you can add what you need to do after the text appeared.
{{' …………………..
{{Goto Start

Function:
Every second a certain browser location is selected and copied to the clipboard. This text is compared with the text one second ago. As soon as the text changes a beep is generated and the saved text is updated.

45.2 Randomize a list of names

Sometimes you want to randomize lists. Here a possibility to do this by Mouse and Key Recorder. (Just feasible for small lists)

(The file John.txt contains the names. Example:

John,Peter,Antony,Beth)

{{' Recorded at: Feb.21.2002, 18:21 (MKR Version: V4.2)

{{' First reading all names from the file john.txt to string variables

{{SetVar1 1

{{ImportFile C:\John.txt

{{Label Start

{{SetString{{Var1} {{DoImport}

{{IncVar1 1

{{If {{Var1} < 5 ;{{Goto Start;

{{' Now we get the names randomly. If a name is already taken, we try again.

{{SetVar1 1

{{SetVar3 11

{{Label Start2

{{SetVar2} {{RandomNumber 1,4}

{{If {{String{{Var2}} = #emptyX5# ;{{Goto Start2;

{{SetString{{Var3} {{String{{Var2}}

{{SetString{{Var2} #emptyX5#

{{IncVar1 1}

{{IncVar3 1}

{{If {{Var1} < 5 ;{{Goto Start2;

{{' Now we show the string variables

{{MessageBox {{String11}

{{MessageBox {{String12}

{{MessageBox {{String13}

{{MessageBox {{String14}

Hint: With V6.4 and newer you could also {{ImportNextLine with a paramteter to access a random line directly.

45.3 Setting a Hotkey by macro

Hotkeys are saved on the PC. To deliver a hotkey together with a macro you can create a hotkey by macro:

{{If {{VarHotkeyAlreadyAdded} = 0 ;{{WriteLineToFile å{{AppDataPath}\MacroHotKeys.txtå | åCTRL{{Chr 9}SHIFT{{Chr 9}ALT{{Chr 9}a{{Chr 9}D:\Macros\MyMacro.krcå;

{{SetVarHotkeyAlreadyAdded 1

Command syntax:

{{If {{VarHotkeyAlreadyAdded} = 0: The hotkey should be inserted just once.
å{{AppDataPath}\MacroHotKeys.txtå: Path to Hotkey file.
åCTRL{{Chr 9}SHIFT{{Chr 9}ALT{{Chr 9}a{{Chr 9}: Hotkey-Combination: CTRL SHIFT ALT a. Further example:
å-{{Chr 9}-{{Chr 9}ALT{{Chr 9}b{{Chr 9}: Means: ALT b

45.4 Changing Time format

{{Time creates the following format: 17-45-58

Often we would like have this format: 17:45

Here a command to change the time format to 17:45:

{{MessageBox {{Left {{Replace {{Time} | - | : | 1 | -1} | 5}

45.5 Catching a screenshot all 5 minutes

The next example catches a screenshot of the Recorder every 15 minutes and saves them to a Word document.

{{SendTextSpecial}

{{Label Start

{{Switch #MKRX5#

{{SetVarStartTime {{SerialTime}

{{SetVarEndTime {{VarStartTime}

{{IncVarEndTime 300 {{' Seconds = 5 Minutes

{{Label Start2

{{Delay 300} {{' Milliseconds

{{If {{SerialTime} > {{VarEndTime} ;{{Goto Continue;

{{Goto Start2

{{Label Continue

%{PRTSC}

{{Switch Microsoft Word

{ENTER}

{{Goto Start

45.6 Creating random numbers for lottery

This macro generates random lottery numbers.

Technique: The problem when generating lottery numbers is the requirement, that each number must occur just once. But a random generator can also generate two or three times the same number…

We could check each number against each other.. This would need 45 comparisons for a 10 number game.. and it needs a complicated loop control.. So we use an array and we put each number to the same location in the array as the number. E.g. the number 39 goes to array location 39. So, if we find an already occupied location in the array we know it is a double number and we try again.

Initialization: Here we set the borders.. No. of balls, max. number.

Part 1: This cleans the array. This is necessary since variables in MKR survive macro load, MKR new start and even a PC reboot.

Part 2: Here we run the random generator and fill in the numbers into the variable bingo and also into the array.

Part 3: Here we convert the numbers to strings and add a zero if necessary. This is required for the following sort function.

Part 4: Sorting the random numbers.

Part 5: Creating a string with all numbers for output by MessageBox.

{{' Initialization

{{SetGenDelay 0

{{SetVarNoOfBalls 6

{{SetVarMaxNo 42

{{' => Part 1

{{SetVarCounter 1

{{Label Prepare

{{SetVarArray{{VarCounter} 0

{{IncVarCounter 1

{{If {{VarCounter} <= {{VarMaxNo} ;{{Goto Prepare;

{{' => Part 2

{{SetVarCounter 1

{{Label Start

{{SetVarBingo{{VarCounter} {{RandomNumber 1,{{VarMaxNo}}

{{If {{VarArray{{VarBingo{{VarCounter}}} <> 0 ;{{Goto Start;

{{SetVarArray{{VarBingo{{VarCounter}} {{VarBingo{{VarCounter}}

{{IncVarCounter 1

{{If {{VarCounter} <= {{VarNoOfBalls} ;{{Goto Start;

{{' => Part 3

{{SetVarCounter 1

{{Label Convert

{{If {{VarBingo{{VarCounter}} < 10;{{SetStringBingo{{VarCounter}} 0{{VarBingo{{VarCounter}};{{SetStringBingo{{VarCounter}} {{VarBingo{{VarCounter}}

{{IncVarCounter 1

{{If {{VarCounter} <= {{VarNoOfBalls} ;{{Goto Convert;

{{' => Part 4

{{Sort STRING, Bingo, 1, {{VarNoOfBalls}, {{False}

{{' => Part 5

{{SetVarCounter 1

{{SetStringOutput Numbers:

{{Label Output

{{SetStringOutput {{StringOutput}{{StringBingo{{VarCounter}}#spaceX5##spaceX5#

{{IncVarCounter 1

{{If {{VarCounter} <= {{VarNoOfBalls} ;{{Goto Output;

{{MessageBox {{StringOutput}

45.7 MP3 Randomizer

KeyWords: MP3, Random play (Minimal Recorder Version: V6.5)

Lots of MP3 players contain a randomize function. But in some playes (e.g. car radios) this function is missing.

This macro adds a random number in front of the MP3 file name. That way the missing random play function can be added.

Hint: To make the macro faster set the Line Delay to zero.

{{' Macro adds a number (Random or Serial) in front of MP3 songs.

{{Ask1 Path to MP3 Files |{{StringPathToMP3Files}

{{SetStringPathToMP3Files {{WriteAsk1}

{{Ask1 Lower border (LowerBorder +1 will be used)|{{VarLowerBorder}

{{SetVarLowerBorder {{WriteAsk1}

{{Label AskForROrS

{{Ask1 (r) Random Numbers or (s) Serial Numbers [z.B. 1001, 1002, 1003..] |{{StringRandomOrSerial}

{{SetStringRandomOrSerial {{WriteAsk1}

{{If {{StringRandomOrSerial} = s ;{{Goto Start;

{{If {{StringRandomOrSerial} <> r ;{{MessageBox Only 'r' or 's' is allowed !;

{{If {{StringRandomOrSerial} <> r ;{{Goto AskForROrS;

{{Ask1 Reserve numbers (The more the faster.. but 0 = no gaps) |{{VarDeltaBorder}

{{SetVarDeltaBorder {{WriteAsk1}

{{Label Start

{{CreateDir C:\Temp

{{DeleteFile C:\Temp\DirList.txt

{{ScanDirectories {{StringPathToMP3Files} | *.MP3 | {{False} | C:\Temp\DirList.txt | {{True}

{{ImportFile C:\Temp\DirList.txt

{{ImportSeparator >

{{SetVarUpperBoarderRead {{Calc {{VarLowerBorder} + {{VarScanDirectoriesX55}}

{{SetVarUpperBoarderReadDelta {{Calc {{VarLowerBorder} + {{VarScanDirectoriesX55} + {{VarDeltaBorder}}

{{SetVarCounter {{VarLowerBorder}

{{Label ArrayStart

{{IncVarCounter 1

{{ShowInfo Creating Array Line: {{VarCounter}

{{SetVarRandomArray{{VarCounter} {{VarCounter}

{{If {{VarCounter} < {{VarUpperBoarderReadDelta} ;{{Goto ArrayStart;

{{Label RenameStart

{{SetVarLowerBorderCounter {{VarLowerBorder}

{{SetVarCounter {{VarLowerBorder}

{{Label StartSelectMP3

{{IncVarCounter 1

{{IncVarLowerBorderCounter 1

{{ShowInfo Renaming Files Line: {{VarCounter}

{{SetStringFile {{DoImport}

{{SetStringPath {{DoImport}

{{Label TryAgain

{{SetVarRandomNo {{RandomNumber {{VarLowerBorder}, {{VarUpperBoarderReadDelta}}

{{If {{VarRandomArray{{VarRandomNo }} = 0 ;{{Goto TryAgain;{{Gosub ProcessMP3

{{If {{ImportNextLine} = {{True};{{Goto StartSelectMP3;{{Goto Ende

{{Goto StartSelectMP3

{{Label ProcessMP3

{{If {{StringRandomOrSerial} = s ;{{SetStringFileNew} {{VarLowerBorderCounter}_{{StringFile} ;{{SetStringFileNew} {{VarRandomNo}_{{StringFile}

{{RenameFile {{StringPath}{{StringFile} | {{StringPath}{{StringFileNew}

{{SetVarRandomArray{{VarRandomNo} 0

{{Return

{{Label Ende

45.8 MP3 Pre-Number remover

This macro removes the pre-numbers added by the above macro (MP3 Randomizer)

Hint: To make the macro faster set the Line Delay to zero.

{{Ask1 MP3-Path |{{StringPathToMP3Files}

{{SetStringPathToMP3Files {{WriteAsk1}

{{Ask1 Position where the normal file name starts |{{VarPosition}

{{SetVarPosition {{WriteAsk1}

{{CreateDir C:\Temp

{{ScanDirectories {{StringPathToMP3Files} | *.MP3 | {{False} | C:\Temp\DirList.txt |{{True}

{{ImportFile C:\Temp\DirList.txt

{{ImportSeparator >

{{Label Start

{{SetString1 {{DoImport}

{{SetString2 {{DoImport}

{{SetString3 {{DoImport}

{{SetString4 {{DoImport}

{{SetString5 {{DoImport}

{{SetString2 {{Mid {{String2} | {{VarPosition} | -1}

{{RenameFile {{String1} | {{String5}{{String2}

{{If {{ImportNextLine} = {{True};{{Goto Start;

45.9 Babylon Replacement

KeyWords: Babylon alternativ, Babylon Substitution, replacement, solution

The Babylon translation program (babylon.com) is quite good, but has become very, very expensive. Recently a new rule allows using Babylon allows it just on one PC, despite if you have several PCs you can't work on all of them at the same time...

The following macro can be used as a substitute for Babylon. It copies the selected word, starts the free translation program LEO.org and enters the word.

{{Minimize}

{{Delay 300} {{' Milliseconds

{{Start åC:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exeå http://dict.leo.org/?search={{Clipboard}

Maybe the path to iexplore needs to be adjusted and a hotkey defined, then you are nearly as fast as Babylon and you use even a much better dictionary than Babylon.

If you use another language than German or English you need to adjust the leo.org address.