Macro Recording

[lnj]

Macro Recording is not working.
OS: Windows Vista 64bit sp2
PL/SQL: v7.1.5.1396
Oracle: 11g

The documentation is outdated....there is no such thing as a "Macro Library" window despite the fact that the button and menu option call it that.
1) I delete everything out of the "Macros Edit" window and close it
2) macro record start
3) Do keystrokes (no mouse) of desired action
4) macro record stop
5) open "Macros Edit/Macro Library" window.
6) Window appears with one "" macro listing, but no commands in the Command panel below. I have tried the buttons combinations I can think of to work with this. But, in the end, because there are no commands in the Commands panel in the bottom half of the window, I just don't think the recording is working. How do I get this to work? I tried putting "EDITORMACRO" on the shortcut, but that didn't seem to do anything.

Thanks,
lnj

 

[Worker]

On the toolbar there are 3 macro-related buttons. The last one of which (a camcorder with "...") opens a dialog labeled "Macro Library". You can also come this via Tools->Macro->Library.

After your step #5, the "Macro Library" has an enabled "New" button in the top-right corner. Clicking that allows you to store the macro.

Given that you say things like "Macros Edit" and "Command panel" (both of which are terms I don't see in my copy of v7.1.5), are you sure you're not running an old version instead?

 

[lnj]

Thank you for your reply.

For the sake of verifying everything I have said as that seems to be the first problem we need to solve,
Here is a zipped-up video:http://tinyurl.com/l96z9w

Verification not shown:
- I don't show documentation
- I don't show accessing Macros though menubar (Tools > macros)

TIME | DESCRIPTION
00:02 | PL/SQL version is shown
00:09 | Open "Macro Library" using button. The title text of the button is "Macro Library", window opened = "Macros Edit"
00:09 | 1) I delete everything out of the "Macros Edit" window and close it, I reopen to verify delete is saved.
00:18 | I open a new SQL Window to enable Macro recording.
00:22 | 2) macro record start
00:27 | 3) Do keystrokes (no mouse) of desired action
00:36 | 4) macro record stop
00:37 | 5) open "Macros Edit/Macro Library" window
00:39 | 6) description of window.

There is no "New" button in my window, though that is what I expected based on my previous version of PL/SQL Developer. I also saw other posts that show a version ....1398, vs. the 1396 that I have. But, based on your remark that you have 7.1.5 and see a "New" button, I don't think the differing build number is the difference maker.

In regards to the verbage I use to describe what I see:
- "Macros Edit" is the title of the window.
- By command panel, I am merely describing the "Commands" panel below the "Macros" panel. In my previous version of PL/SQL developer, I have noticed that the Commands panel is populated with any keystrokes used during the recording of the macro. Here, you will see it is empty.

So, any recommendations for fixing what I am doing wrong, or fixing the version of PSD I am running?

Thanks much!,
lnj

 

[Worker]

I am baffled by the difference in our Macro Edit/Library window. It doesn't seem like a big enough change for such a minor version number change, but who knows. You should be able to ensure you have the very latest version by choosing "Check Online Updates..." in the Help menu.

Either way, I think macros only record keystrokes (my version actually says "Keys" instead of "Commands"). Try the following: instead of using the mouse to open a new SQL window, press: [Alt], F, N, S, then stop recording. This newly recorded macro should do what you need.

I'm hoping someone from Allround support can look at the video and explain what's going on.

 

[lnj]

If you look closely at the video you will see I am using keyboard strokes to open the SQL Window while recording. You will notice the Menu Bar Headers get underlined when I hit the ALT key. I am using the following sequence in the video.

--Alt,F,down(arrow), up, right, down, down, [enter]

But, please note, first I open a SQL window USING THE MOUSE to enable the Macro recording options before attmepting to record the macro. When I record the macro, I use keyboard strokes. The Macro recording options are disabled until a SQL window is open. I also am looking forward to someone from Allround support explaining this behavior.

I have been ignoring the 7.1.5.1398 update that is available. I will see if I can get our infrastructure group to update my PSD to see if that makes a difference.

Thanks. Let me know if you think of any other ideas.

 

[Worker]

My apologies. I should have noticed you were using the keyboard to open the second SQL window.

The Macro recording options are disabled until a SQL window is open.

This is another difference with my version. The Macro Record button is available even without any open windows.

My one last suggestion would be to look in C:\Program Files\PLSQL Developer\PlugIns to look for any macro-related plugins. I don't know if any exist and if any are even possible, but that's all I have left.

 

[lnj]

I have nothing in the plugins directory - worthwhile check.

I installed PSD to C:\software\PLSQL_Developer\ (I can't imagine that would make a difference, but it is another difference to consider)

I'm trying to find an update download for 7.1.5.1398 now...but, I only see a file called plsqldev715.exe available on the downloads page.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

 

[Worker]

Marco / Allround Support, does anyone know why his Macro Editor dialog is so radically different from my Macro Library dialog? (See image)

 

[Marco Kalter]

On is on XP and the other is on Vista. In the upcoming 8.0 release the dialog will be the same on both platforms.

 

[lnj]

Now, to take the question back to the original. How the heck does the Macros Edit window work? I would like to record some Macros, but it doesn't seem to be recording keystrokes.

 

[lnj]

Marco / Allround Support, how do you record a macro using the Vista version of the "macros edit" window?

 

[Marco Kalter]

Press the "Macro Record" button, type your text, and press the button again. Now you can playback the macro, or save it to the library.

 

[lnj]

ok, type text. I tried simply doing that and those keystrokes are saved (captured).

But, no keystrokes to open a new SQL window are captured.

Marco, can you explain why those don't work, or what the proper process is for saving "actions" vs. just text?

 

[Thorsten Kohl (IBS)]

This would be very good to know. But Marco told me a few month ago, that macro recording is not fully working under vista. All special keys are not working any more (F8, Ctrl+C...). Therefore macro functionality is no longer usable for us "vista users" (and I think it's the same under Windows 7). I thought that this was fixed in new release, but it seems that it wasn't fixed :-(

So is there a fix planned for future?

 

[Marco Kalter]

The macro keystrokes are indeed restricted to editor functionality, and cannot control other application functions.

 

[ScottMattes]

It might be time to download AutoHotKey then.

www.autohotkey.com