Background Function Key Macro software.

[Albion]

I am looking for a piece of software that will work in the background in Windows XP. It will record a block of text then allow you to assign that block of text to a hotkey (ALT-R, SHIFT-F1, etc...). Then from any text editor you want, you can hit a hotkey and have it paste the block of text assigned to that hotkey.

Anyone know of such a beast?

Thanks

-Craig

 

[linney]

Some programs that do strange things were mentioned in this thread, I don't know if they do what your looking to do, but it may be worth a read.

XP Notebook PC - Fastest way to adjust microphone record level
thread779-1264939

 

[Pleonasm]

Albion, perhaps I am not understanding the problem correctly, but it seems that highlighting the text in Application A and pressing Ctrl+C to copy the text to the clipboard - and then using Ctrl+V to past the text into Application B - ought to work.

Alternatively, consider the use of the free AutoHotkey utility (

http://www.autohotkey.com/).

 

[Albion]

My guys do G-Coding, a type of programming used by CNC machine tools. Right now they use WordStar because they can store 20 or 30 different subroutines in a macro and hit a different function key for each to "paste" the subroutine where they want it. Sure they could have a text doc with all the subs in it, but then they'd need to search through the text doc to find the routine, highlight it, copy and paste it. A lot more steps then just hitting F4 or Shift-F5 to paste the sub.

The problem is that the only editor I can find that has that type of macro function is WordStar. I am sure there are others out there, but we need to find one that has a DNC function in it (DNC is a protocol that allows a computer to talk to a CNC control through serial). Since I am not able to find a G-Code editor with DNC that has that type of Macro function I was hoping to find a program that sits in the background and does it.

I.E. I want ALT-F1 to paste

G42
N43
X12,Y34,Z16
%

So every time I hit ALT-F1 it will paste that subroutine into whatever editor is currently active in Windows.

Thanks

-Al

 

[bcastner]

I will give you some examples using AutoHotKey:

http://www.autohotkey.com/

Using Notepad, I create a file Albion.ahk :

; ALT+F1 key assignment
!F1::
send G42{enter]
send N43{enter]
send X12,Y34,Z16{enter]
send %{enter}
return

; Ctrl+R example in one line
^r::send Sincerly yours,{enter}Albion{enter}

; Shift+F1 example
+F1::
send You can do a lot more than this{enter]
send if you play with the program a bit{enter}
return

; Ctr+ALT+Shift+G example
+^!g::
send Goodbye from bcastner{enter}
return

---------------

After saving the file you would use AutoHotKey to load the file either by double clicking in Explorer, or creating a Desktop shortcut.

You can edit the file at any time to add or change keys. You can have multiple scripts. You can detect if your editor is open or not.

Much more.