Macros are used to pre-record tasks that you perform frequently. Macros can be operated using a very small number of keystrokes and may, therefore, greatly reduce the number of keystrokes required to perform a certain task.
There are two ways of creating a keyboard macro. You can either simply record the keystrokes that make up the macro, or you can enter the macro steps directly.
Note: When recording a macro, it is important that you begin recording from within the HandiSoft program window that the macro will be played from in the future. If you play the macro from a different area of the program, it will not run or, worse yet, you may inadvertently delete data.
Tip: Macros will only record keystrokes. They cannot record mouse movements. You, therefore, can only use the keyboard when recording a macro.
Record a macro
Log in to your HandiSoft program.
From the Tools menu, click Keyboard Macros. Alternatively, press the F12 key.
Click the Record button.
This will return you to the main program window. The title bar of the window will show Recording Macro (F12 to Stop).
Any keystrokes you make from now on will be recorded in the Macro.
Tip: It is good practice to press your Esc key to be recorded as the first
keystroke. This will ensure that only the program main window is open when
you run the macro.Perform the task that you want the macro to record.
After you have completed the task that the macro is to perform, press the F12 key to stop the recording of keystrokes
The Edit macro window displays the steps in the macro. If necessary, you can make changes to them.
In the top right field, type a name for the macro.
Click Save to save the new macro, and Close. Your new macro has been recorded.
Create the macro using steps
In some situations, this method can be quicker than recording.
Log in to your HandiSoft program.
From the Tools menu, click Keyboard Macros. Alternatively, press the F12 key.
On the Macros window, click New.
On the Edit macro window, enter the steps that make up the macro.
Click Save to save the new macro, and Close to exit.
Run a macro
To run a macro that has been previously created, you must be at the location in the program where it was initially recorded.
Run an existing macro
Log in to your HandiSoft program.
From the Tools menu, click Keyboard Macros. Alternatively, press the F12 key.
On the Macros window, highlight the macro that you want to run.
Click Play or press Enter. The program will replay the steps in the macro.
Tip: The quickest way to run a macro is to press Ctrl+Alt+<key number>. For example, to run a macro with a key number of 02, press Ctrl+Alt+2.
Edit a macro
You can edit the steps in existing macros. This is very useful if you have recorded a macro and you want to change a single step without having to record the macro again.
Edit an existing macro
Log in to your HandiSoft program.
From the Tools menu, click Keyboard Macros. Alternatively, press the F12 key.
Highlight the macro that is to be edited and click Edit. (To delete an existing macro, click Delete).
To edit a macro step, highlight the step and, in the right pane, double-click the required action for that step.
To add a new step, place the cursor at the required step. If necessary, press Enter to make a space. On the right pane, double-click the required action for that step.
Click Save to save your changes.
Click Close to exit.