Microsoft KB Archive/78048

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Keyboard Commands More Reliable With Recorder

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Q78048

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

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SUMMARY
Macros recorded with the Microsoft Windows Recorder program are more reliable when created using keystrokes, than macros created using equivalent mouse operations.

MORE INFORMATION
Macros based on mouse operations are dependent upon the locations and sizes of objects on the desktop. The sizes and location of objects tend to change for each Windows session and user. Therefore using these as reference points may result in Recorder macro errors, such as the following:

Playback window does not exist

Keystroke-based macros do not depend on the locations or sizes of objects; thus, they are not sensitive to changes in these reference points.

Example of Keystroke Macro
 Execute the Recorder program. Minimize Program Manager. From the Recorder menu, choose Macro Record.  Begin recording the macro, using the following settings:      Playback (Group Box)

To:                Same Application Speed:             Fast Record Mouse:      Everything Relative to:       Screen  While holding down the ALT key, press the TAB key repeatedly until Program Manager is highlighted. Release both ALT and TAB to restore Program Manager. Press ALT+F, R to choose Run from Program Manager's File menu.  Type "clock.exe" and press ENTER to run the Clock program.  Type CTRL+BREAK to stop recording.</li> Save the macro.</li></ol>

Steps 1-4 must be performed because the Program Manager may be minimized at the start of the macro. If so, it will not respond to the File Run command given in step 5. These steps ensure the Program Manager is open.

Additional query words: 3.00 3.0 3.10 3.00a 3.11

Keywords :

Issue type :

Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311