Scope

Scope essentially refers to which program or programs allow the macro to activate. The default setting is Global for each new macro created. Choose to have the macro run in all applications, limit it to specific programs or windows, or have it play back in all windows and programs except for the ones specified.

Script Editor > Scope Tab

Global

The global option allows a macro to play back in any Windows application.

Window/Program Specific

Use this option to select a specific window or program in which the macro starts. If the window or program selected is not active, the macro does not start. Click on the Add Window or Add Program button to select the window or program wanted.

üNote:  A Window or Program Specific Scope does not prevent a macro from playing back in an application not assigned in the scope. It prevents a macro from starting unless the specified window or program is active.

For example, assume a hot key macro of F12, with a scope is set to program specific and Notepad is the selected program. Press F12 in Wordpad and the macro does not run. Press F12 in Notepad and the macro runs. The F12 macro may insert text into Notepad and then later open Wordpad during the same macro. The macro scope does not prevent this.

Global Except

The Global Except option allows the macro to play back in all Windows applications, except in the programs or windows selected. Click on the Add Window or Add Program button to select the window or program required.

üNote:  A hot key may only be assigned to one macro if the scope is set to General. The same hot key may be used multiple times if the scope is assigned to Window or Program Specific.

Buttons

These four buttons are only available when using the Window/Program Specific or Global Except scopes.

Modify

Highlight an entry made in the scope window and click on the Modify button to change the window or program selected previously.

Add Window

Click on the Add Window button to view all windows that are currently running on the computer. One tab lists all visible windows currently running and a second tab lists all windows running that are hidden. Hidden windows are not displayed when an application is running, but are active.

If the window is currently running, scroll through the list and click on the title. The window selected is placed in the Window Title edit field. If the window is not currently running, type the window name in the Window Title edit field.

Exact Match/Partial Match

The exact match option requires that the Window title match exactly before the macro plays back. A partial match only requires a portion of the window title in order to work. For example, "notep" would be sufficient to find the "notepad" window.

The title contains wildcards

Select this option if a wildcard is included in the window title name. A wildcard uses the " * " or " ? " characters in the title to expand the possibilities of a match. These are similar to the wildcards used in Windows for searches.

A Window with this title must be on Top

This option plays the macro back only if the window is the current top-most window (the one that is showing on top of all other windows). If this option is not selected, the macro will start if the window is running in the background and play back in whatever window has focus.

Include hidden windows in the scope

By default the macro will only look for windows that are visible, not those that run hidden and are not seen by the user. Select this option to have the scope apply to the windows listed in the Hidden tab, as well as those that are visible.

After making a selection, click OK and the window is listed in the Scope tab. Repeat the process to add additional windows if necessary.

Add Program

Click on the Add Program button to view all programs that are currently running on the computer. One tab displays the tree view of the programs in the Start Menu. The other tab displays a list of processes currently running. Scroll through the list or tree view and highlight the program wanted. The program name displays in the Executable Path edit box. If the program is not found in either tab, manually type the file name and path or click on the Browse button to find the file on the computer.

This program must have a window on top

This option only runs the macro if the program is the current top-most program (the one that is showing on top of all other windows). If this option is not selected, the macro will start if the program is running in the background and play back in whatever program has focus.

After making a selection, click OK and the program is listed in the Scope tab. Repeat the process to add additional programs if necessary.

Delete

Highlight an entry made in the scope window and click on the Delete button. The scope entry previously made is removed.