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Let's Talk About MACROS

by Teenage Genius
9 replies
Hi. I've recently been introduced to the wonderful world of Macros's.

Marco's are recordings which you can play at any time and the computer will carry out the task you recorded for you, fully automated.

I have also recenlty discovered there is a FireFox extension for Marco's.

The only problem is: I've never used them before and I don't know what I could use them for!

Anybody had any experience with them and could help me out and point me in the right direction?

and share your Marco tales and secrets

Yours,
Geniu$
#macros #talk
  • Profile picture of the author markwinder
    Hiya Genius,

    While I've never created Macros - I've used them on numerous occasions. I agree with you that they're a phenomenal way for the user to cut down time-to-task completion - regardless if its an online or offline problem.

    The one thing I'd ask, if I were in your shoes, is how "exposed" are these macros that you'd be working with in FireFox? The reason I bring this up is that they've been using Macros in programs like Excel for years. However, because it involves "programming" its possible to put malicious code into the macro itself. As such, I think a lot of people tend to get nervous of anything labeled with the word "macro"

    That said - they're killer when they work well! I'm just trying to figure out what I'd use one for in Firefox?

    - Mark.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by markwinder View Post

      Hiya Genius,

      While I've never created Macros - I've used them on numerous occasions. I agree with you that they're a phenomenal way for the user to cut down time-to-task completion - regardless if its an online or offline problem.

      The one thing I'd ask, if I were in your shoes, is how "exposed" are these macros that you'd be working with in FireFox? The reason I bring this up is that they've been using Macros in programs like Excel for years. However, because it involves "programming" its possible to put malicious code into the macro itself. As such, I think a lot of people tend to get nervous of anything labeled with the word "macro"

      That said - they're killer when they work well! I'm just trying to figure out what I'd use one for in Firefox?

      - Mark.
      A good use, in this situation, is to fill out forms. One example, is to create bookmarking accounts at 100 different sites. A firefox macro could handle about 80% of them, or so.
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  • Profile picture of the author Teenage Genius
    Thanks for thaty Kurt

    Yeah I am also looking for good ways and places to use them. I have had zero experience with them but the whole automation thing and time saving appeals to me.

    I just want to get in some practice. Plus of course if you master making them then they can be sold.

    But I want to use them for a good use. Filling out forms is ideal. Anyone have any other suguestions?
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    • Profile picture of the author markwinder
      One quick note - check out RoboForm - looks like they use form-filling Macros as well. I have to agree with Kurt - they are HUGE time savers.

      Genius - if you were to build a better mouse trap here (ie improve upon RoboForm), one of the things I think it lacks is user profiles. eg - for some things I want to sign up with personal information, for others, I want to use business information, and maybe even bogus info for still others (ie - sites I think are "sketchy"). The kicker is making it secure (anything that holds personal info needs to be locked down in some way).

      But this one tool has saved me HOURS of time just for holding various username passwords + form info.

      Another macro I'd love is to have my "workplace" get setup when I open my first browser of the day. Generally I have 3 basic tabs on Firefox open at any given time: email, calendar, and a to-do list. I'd love to be able to open up and log into all three at the click of a button... THAT would be slick!

      Finally - have a look at what they're doing over at iPhone... some of the apps are amazing. They might give you some inspiration! :-)
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      • Profile picture of the author Catalin Ionescu
        Originally Posted by markwinder View Post

        Generally I have 3 basic tabs on Firefox open at any given time: email, calendar, and a to-do list. I'd love to be able to open up and log into all three at the click of a button... THAT would be slick!

        Mark, you know the option in Firefox that re-opens the tabs you had open when you closed it (Tools -> Options -> Main -> Startup)? Might just do the trick you need.


        What I'm interested is a macro recorder/playback application. Let me explain...

        It should be something that records all the mouse moves and clicks, and keypresses. Then it should save this action list as a macro, with the option to edit it if needed, and press play to re-do the same movements and clicks as many times as I want. In a nutshell it's the VB macro recorder found in Office applications, only available to all applications.

        Ideas anyone?
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        • Profile picture of the author robd1302
          Originally Posted by Catalin Ionescu View Post

          Mark, you know the option in Firefox that re-opens the tabs you had open when you closed it (Tools -> Options -> Main -> Startup)? Might just do the trick you need.


          What I'm interested is a macro recorder/playback application. Let me explain...

          It should be something that records all the mouse moves and clicks, and keypresses. Then it should save this action list as a macro, with the option to edit it if needed, and press play to re-do the same movements and clicks as many times as I want. In a nutshell it's the VB macro recorder found in Office applications, only available to all applications.

          Ideas anyone?
          The program HotKeyboard that I mentioned in my previous post sounds exactly like what you're describing.

          http://www.hot-keyboard.com/
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  • Profile picture of the author esr
    I don't use them now, simply because I don't know how to set them up, but I used to have a job where I typed up reports that were dictated onto tape.

    Well, someone had set up a bunch of macros so that commonly used words were automatically input when I just hit one or two keys. What an awesome timesaver!

    If I knew how to use them, I'd set them up for things I type a lot. Like, my email address, my domains, certain html tags that I use often.

    I believe that would be a serious timesaver.
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    • Profile picture of the author madison_avenue
      Originally Posted by esr View Post

      I don't use them now, simply because I don't know how to set them up, but I used to have a job where I typed up reports that were dictated onto tape.

      Well, someone had set up a bunch of macros so that commonly used words were automatically input when I just hit one or two keys. What an awesome timesaver!

      If I knew how to use them, I'd set them up for things I type a lot. Like, my email address, my domains, certain html tags that I use often.

      I believe that would be a serious timesaver.
      esr


      I use shortkeys, I have short cuts for long words it really is a great time saver. It is so easy to set up, you just enter what short cut you want to use, i.e for leverage you just enter lev or whatever you want.


      ShortKeys Home Page
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  • Profile picture of the author robd1302
    I use a program called HotKeyboard, and it's revolutionized my efficiency. I mostly use it when writing emails to customers. So many paragraphs (and sometimes entire emails) were exactly the same as dozens of others I send each week. Now, I just hit Ctrl + Shift + [a key] and it spits out exactly what I need. Sometimes, I tweak the text a bit to fit the situation and hit send. This seriously saves me 45 minutes a day.

    I don't just use it for emails. Sometimes, I use it for any repetitive process that I can automate. It's great!
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