Editor
Macros are constructed and maintained within the Macro Editor.
The editor is invoked from the Flex-deck menu bar and when loaded will load the currently focused project:
There are three main areas to the Macro Editor;
Folder and macro layout
Defines the folder structure containing the macros.
Macro action list
Defines the actions associated with the selected macro
Action options
Defines the settings for the selected action in the macro action list
Macro folder structure
At the highest level this shows the macro sets:
Built-in
This is a macro set shipped with the software to mainly act as example macros, but also ones that may be of use when called from within user created macros. This is a fixed set of macros that cannot be edited and may change with each release.
Global
This is empty when first installed but is used as a repository for completed user created macros that can be invoked from within other user created macros. Macros can be copied to the folder from completed project macros (if they are deemed useful in other projects)
Project
Macro sets build by the user and associated with a specific project. These are the macros created for the automation of tasks associated with a project. e.g. they may contain all the macros needed to automate tasks within a specific application.
The Project folders and macros are maintained by the macro folder control panel:
This allows you to structure the folder layout to suit your needs and allows you to add folders and macros at the project level. Built-in folders and macros are fixed and cannot be edited. The Global folder can be added to via the 'Copy to Global Library' option. Global and project folders and macros and can be deleted using the delete option.
When the columns extend beyond the available space, you can scroll the columns left and right. If you have a regular mouse with a scroll wheel this can be accomplished by holding the shift key, if you have a trackpad you can do a two finger drag in any direction, or you can click and drag on the scroll bar. If the scroll bar is not shown then to set it to be visible at all times set System Preferences > General "Show scroll bars" to "Always".
Macro action list
This area is used to construct the actions related to the selected Macro in the macro folder structure.
The title bar will show the name of the selected macro.
The action control panel is used to maintain the action list associated with the macro:
Select Add action and/or the Add nested macro option to construct the macro one element at a time to automate the task at hand.
The Add action will show a list of macro actions and will add the selected action to the bottom of the list ready to be configured.
The Add nested macro adds a nested macro to the current macro from the Built-in or Global Macros. Alternatively, nested macros can be dragged to the list to be placed in a specific position or selected from the dropdown to be added to the end of the list.
You can drag and drop individual macro action entries to the desired place in the action list. You can select multiple action entries using the shift modifier key whilst selecting the actions, and relocate as required.
The Option dropdown allows you to indicate the mouse should return to its original position when the macro completes and to associate individual keyboard shortcuts, using the Hotkey Editor, to invoke the macro in the 'live' environment via the keyboard.
Testing the macro
The 'Run Macro' option allows you to run/test the macro from within the Editor.
Keyboard shortcuts can also be used to run the current macro. The Global shortcut is useful when, for test purposes, you need to run the macro from outside the editor, leaving focus as is:
Local
Command+M
Run the current macro when the Macro Editor has focus
Global
Command+Ctrl+M
This shortcut can be used to run the current macro at any time without affecting system focus. This can be used to test the macro retaining system focus on the target application. The keystroke shortcut is defined in the Flexi-deck preferences, so can be changed as required.
Macro action options
This area shows the options associated with the selected action or nested macro to be configured as required and tested using the Run Action button:
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