Creating, Editing, and Running Express Macros

Express Macros are general purpose macros that are supported by a number of Micro Focus products including: Reflection Desktop, InfoConnect Desktop, ZFE, and Rumba. After you create an Express macro, you can run it on any supported Micro Focus product (no editing is required).

If you are new to programming, you'll probably find it easier to get started with Express macros than you would with other languages such as Visual Basic for Applications. The Express Macro Language (EML) has a visual editor that allows you to write or edit programs by arranging code blocks. You don't have to worry about code syntax errors like missing semicolons. Instead, you can just focus on the logic of the macro to get the automation result you want.

From Reflection Desktop, you can:

• Record host interactions in an Express macro.

• Edit recorded macros or create new macros using the Express Macro visual block programming editor.

• Select and run Express macros.

Recording Express Macros

You can record a macro to automate your interaction with host applications, including:

• Sending data to, or typing text in, a host application.

• Copying and pasting text or data on a single line from one host application to another.

• Selecting text with a mouse or clicking the mouse to move the cursor. (Mouse clicks are recorded as cursor positions.)

• Connecting to or disconnecting from a host.

You cannot record:

• Interaction with Reflection settings and Productivity features (such as Spell Check, Auto Expand, and Auto Complete) or Reflection actions (for example, Open, New, or Print).

• Interaction with Web applications.

• Cutting or pasting from a host to an external application (for example, Notepad).

• Switching tabs to move from one host application to another.

  note

  Some actions are recorded differently than might be expected:

  • Only the first line of a multi-row selection is recorded. When commands such as Ctrl+A, Ctrl+Clear, Shift+Up, Shift+Down are used, the recorded macro selects only characters on the first row of the selected area.

  • Ctrl+X is recorded as a Copy command instead of as a Cut command.

To record, edit, or run Express macros

• Select the button or menu commands to record, edit, or run Express macros, depending on which user interface option you are using:

  If you are using this interface option	You can find these commands...
  The Reflection Ribbon	On the Macros tab, in the Express Macros group.
  The Reflection Browser	On the Reflection menu, under Tools, Macro.
  TouchUx	On the Wrench icon menu.
  Classic or Classic MDI	On the Macro menu.