Why is there no.....

[Neoborn]

I am a new user to AutoIt and I firstly want to say that it's awesome. I would like to know why there is no documetation on the syntax / how to use the @macro commands? There is awesome instruction for almost everthing else such as

RunWait ( "filename" [, "workingdir" [, flag]] )

Why is there no such thing / explanation of the macro's and how to add them into the code? Am I missing some blatantly obvious thing that everyone else here knows?

Thanks.

btw keep up the awesome job on this nice software.

[Insolence]

Hrm, I wonder if there is? Yep Just searched for it

Language Reference - Macros
AutoIt has an number of Macros that are special read-only variables used by AutoIt.  Macros start with the @ character instead of the usual $ so are easy to tell apart.  As with normal variables you can use macros in exp[b][/b]ressions but you cannot assign a value to them.

 

The pre-defined macros are generally used to provide easy access to system information like the location of the Windows directory, or the name of the logged on user.

Go here for a complete list.

That might be a bit hard to understand, here's some code:

Run("Notepad.exe", "", @SW_MAXIMIZE)
Sleep(3000)
WinSetState("Untitled -", "", @SW_HIDE)
Sleep(3000)
WinSetState("Untitled -", "", @SW_SHOW)

If you need any of that explained, lemme know

[Neoborn]

Hrm, I wonder if there is?  Yep   Just searched for it

That is clearly not the same thing. A little blurb about what macros are is not the same as how to use them and the correct syntax for using them, but thank you. What it doesn't tell you is things that are only found in this forum like @macro then '&' is to be used for some reason.

[KnowledgeSponge]

Alternatively, you could search for @ in the helpfile to list macros available.

[steveR]

...like @macro then '&' is to be used for some reason.

The & is an operator. It concatenates/joins two strings or in this case a macro. It's covered in the help file too. The & operator isn't found only in AutoIt. It's found in other languages as well such as vbscript.

Edited March 14, 2005 by steveR

[Insolence]

That is clearly not the same thing. A little blurb about what macros are is not the same as how to use them and the correct syntax for using them, but thank you. What it doesn't tell you is things that are only found in this forum like @macro then '&' is to be used for some reason.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Run("Notepad.exe", "", @SW_MAXIMIZE)
Sleep(3000)
WinSetState("Untitled -", "", @SW_HIDE)
Sleep(3000)
WinSetState("Untitled -", "", @SW_SHOW)

Did you look at that?

If you don't understand something just ask

[Neoborn]

If you don't understand something just ask

I did, apparently you are having a hard time answering, let me reiterate my question for you, why isn't the macro syntax covered like every other command / statement and function?

The only instruction listed is this from the helpfile:

AutoIt has an number of Macros that are special read-only variables used by AutoIt.  Macros start with the @ character instead of the usual $ so are easy to tell apart.  As with normal variables you can use macros in expressions but you cannot assign a value to them.

The pre-defined macros are generally used to provide easy access to system information like the location of the Windows directory, or the name of the logged on user.

Edited March 26, 2005 by Neoborn

[steveR]

http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/docs/macros.htm

[ChazFire's REVENGE]

While we are on the subject of macros, how would you show a macros in a sentence(of a msg box/input box?) I alreday know you can do

$text = InputBox ( "TITLE", "PROMT" &MACRO [, "Default" [, "password char" [, Width, Height [, Left, Top [, TimeOut]]]]] )

Yet, I would like for the macro to be displayed in the "PROMT."(and not after) Is thier a way to do this? Do i have to set the macro as a &var = macro and place the $var into it?

Edited March 26, 2005 by ChazFire's REVENGE

[MHz]

Just replace "PROMT" with your macro.

$text = InputBox ( "TITLE", @MACRO [, "Default" [, "password char" [, Width, Height [, Left, Top [, TimeOut]]]]] )

[Valik]

I did, apparently you are having a hard time answering, let me reiterate my question for you, why isn't the macro syntax covered like every other command / statement and function?

The only instruction listed is this from the helpfile:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Let's break this down.

Macros start with the @ character instead of the usual $ so are easy to tell apart.

Okay, this line right here tells us the syntax. Instead of using $var, we use @macro notation according to this sentence.

As with normal variables you can use macros in expressions but you cannot assign a value to them.

Okay, so this means, anywhere I can use a variable, I can use a macro, unless I'm assigning something to a variable.

The pre-requisite for using a macro is a small understanding of how a variable works, since a macro is just a special read-only variable denoted via different syntax. Or, as the helpfile says:

AutoIt has an number of Macros that are special read-only variables used by AutoIt.

I have to say, the helpfile is quite clear on how to use a macro. It just requires stopping for a couple seconds and processing the information which was just read.

Edit: Fixed incorrect quote (copy & paste mistake).

Edited March 26, 2005 by Valik

[ChazFire's REVENGE]

Just replace "PROMT" with your macro.

$text = InputBox ( "TITLE", @MACRO [, "Default" [, "password char" [, Width, Height [, Left, Top [, TimeOut]]]]] )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, that is one way to do, and i know of that. I think i mistated or did not state clear enough of what i want to do.

$text = InputBox ( "TITLE", @MACRO [, "Default" [, "password char" [, Width, Height [, Left, Top [, TimeOut]]]]] )

Would display an input box with the macro written inside(by itself)

Where as

$text = InputBox ( "TITLE", "PROMT" &MACRO [, "Default" [, "password char" [, Width, Height [, Left, Top [, TimeOut]]]]] )

would display somthing i want to say then the macro.

I want to display somthing i want to say then the macro then more of what i want to say.

Such as, having the the inputbox display "Hello, @USERNAME. If this is...."

other words

$text = InputBox ( "TITLE", "PROMT MACRO MORE PROMT"[, "Default" [, "password char" [, Width, Height [, Left, Top [, TimeOut]]]]] )

Am I making sense? Sorry if in any way i am seeming rude.

[phillip123adams]

Such as, having the the inputbox display "Hello, @USERNAME. If this is...."

other words

$text = InputBox ( "TITLE", "PROMT MACRO MORE PROMT"[, "Default" [, "password char" [, Width, Height [, Left, Top [, TimeOut]]]]] )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In the following, note the placement of the quotes, the &'s, and macros always begin with @. This technique is used anywhere a string is to be concatenated with another string.

$text = InputBox ( "TITLE", "some PROMT " & @someMACRO & " some MORE PROMT"[, "Default" [, "password char" [, Width, Height [, Left, Top [, TimeOut]]]]] )

For example:

$text = InputBox("Greetings", "Hello " & @username & "!  I'ts nice to see you again." & @LF & @LF & "Please enter you password:", "", "*")
MsgBox(4096, "You Password", "Your password is " & $text)
Exit

[ChazFire's REVENGE]

$text = InputBox("Greetings", "Hello " & @username & "!  I'ts nice to see you again." & @LF & @LF & "Please enter you password:", "", "*")

Ok thanks. I wasn't putting the last & in. Stupid mistakes lol.