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Macros [2017/02/22 02:41] peternlewis [Overview] |
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- | ====== Macros ====== | ||
- | ===== Overview ===== | ||
- | Macros are the heart, soul, and meat of Keyboard Maestro. See the [[/manual/Macros|Keyboard Maestro Documentation]] for a complete description. | ||
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- | Macros, also known as Shortcuts, are a way of improving your productivity by allowing you to perform repetitive or frequently required actions more quickly and accurately, tailoring your Mac to your usage patterns. | ||
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- | A macro is a process consisting of a series of steps, known as [[Actions|Macro Actions]], that will be run (executed) when any of its [[Triggers|Triggers]] are invoked (like pressing a Hotkey/shortcut) and the proper environment is present (like a certain app is running). Sets of Macros are collected together into a [[Macro_Groups|Macro Group]], where you can define the required environment for the macros to be active (available) to run. | ||
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- | Macros can do almost anything you can do manually on your Mac, and much that you can't, like running scripts.\\ | ||
- | For a more detailed list of actions a Macro can do, see: | ||
- | * [Keyboard Maestro Home Page](https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/) | ||
- | * [Macro Examples](/manual/Macro_Examples) in the Documentation | ||
- | * The [[Macro_Library|Macro Library]] | ||
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- | ===== How to Run a Macro ===== | ||
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- | In order to run (execute) a macro: | ||
- | * One of its [[Triggers|Triggers]] must be invoked | ||
- | * It can only be triggered if it is active | ||
- | * It can only be active if it meets all of the activation criteria, including being enabled | ||
- | * Activation/Deactivation is a dynamic process, automatically set by the Keyboard Maestro Engine as your Mac's environment changes in real time. | ||
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- | For details, see [[Macro Activation]] | ||
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- | ===== How To Create a Macro ===== | ||
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- | To create a Macro, first launch Keyboard Maestro, select the desired Macro Group to contain it, and then click the + button below the Macros list. To edit a Macro, double click it, or select it and press the Edit button. The Macro Editor window will be displayed. For complete, how-to details, see the [[/manual/Macros|Macros Section in the Keyboard Maestro Documentation]] | ||
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- | ===== How to Import Macros ===== | ||
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- | You may need to import Macro(s) you have downloaded from other sources, like the [Keyboard Maestro Forum](https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/). | ||
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- | You may use any of the following to import the macro file (`.kmmacros`): | ||
- | * Double-click on the macro file in the Mac Finder | ||
- | * In the Keyboard Maestro app, goto _File > Import Macros..._ and select the macro file | ||
- | * In some browsers, click on the downloaded file icon at the bottom of the browser window | ||
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- | :!: Note that the macro file (`.kmmacros`) may contain one or more macros, and will also create the Macro Group if it does _not_ exist in your configuration. Otherwise, it will put the Macro in your existing Macro Group. | ||
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- | ==== Import Macros in Safe Mode ==== | ||
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- | :!: Although this is generally safe, you should be aware that, by default, the macros will be imported in the same state (enabled/disabled), triggers, and macro group that they were saved in. **This could result in the imported Macro being triggered (executed) as soon as it is imported.** | ||
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- | **To import in safe mode, with the macro disabled, follow this procedure:** | ||
- | * TBD (FIXME -- this needs to be provided) | ||
- | * (See Forum post: [Imported macros are disabled if all modifers are held down.](https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/km-new-macro-hot-keys/5532/9)) | ||
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- | ===== Examples ===== | ||
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- | A typical simple Macro consists of a single [[trigger:Hot_Key|Hot Key trigger]], such as Control-A, together with a single action, such as the [[action:Insert_Text_by_Typing|Insert Text by Typing Action]] that will “type my address” . | ||
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- | For some real examples, see: | ||
- | * [List of Example Macros](https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/tags/example) | ||
- | * [Best Macro List](https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/best-macro-list/4118) | ||
- | * [Best Examples of Keyboard Maestro Macros](https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/best-examples-of-keyboard-maestro-macros/2817) | ||
- | * Macro Library in Keyboard Maestro App (//Window > Macro Library//) | ||
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- | ===== See Also ===== | ||
- | ==== Related Topics ==== | ||
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- | See also the [[Macro_Groups|Macro Groups]], [[Actions|Macro Actions]], [[Triggers|Macro Triggers]] and [Recording](/manual/Recording) sections. | ||
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- | ==== Documentation ==== | ||
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- | * [[/manual/Macros|Macros Section in Keyboard Maestro Documentation]] | ||
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- | ==== Forum ==== | ||
- | * [Macros Section](https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/c/macro) where users have shared macros they have built. | ||
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- | ==== External References ==== | ||
- | * [A Beginner's Guide to Automating Your Mac with Keyboard Maestro](http://lifehacker.com/a-beginners-guide-to-automating-your-mac-with-keyboard-1630276897) at LifeHacker.com. |