Delays

Macro Express Explorer > Options > Preferences > Playback > Delays

Delays

When typing text on the keyboard each key is pressed and then released. Macro Express simulates this action for each keystroke played back in a macro. A delay between keystrokes may be required for longer strings of text, so that the text does not play back too fast and cause a Keyboard Buffer overflow. This may result in some of the text missing or scrambled.

These two delay options are global settings for all macros that play keystrokes. If you do find the text playing back too fast, increase the microsecond (millionth of a second) delay and test. Adjust as necessary.

Delay after keystroke down

A delay in the number of microseconds selected is applied after each keystroke is pressed down.

Delay after keystroke up (previously named Delay after keystrokes)

A delay in the number of microseconds selected is applied after each keystroke is released.

You may choose to use no delays, one of the delays or both. The default setting is 300 microseconds with both options turned on, which should be optimal for most systems.

Delay After Keystrokes in the Text Type Command

It is possible when typing back long strings of text that the Keyboard Buffer may overflow. When this happens some of the text may be missing or scrambled. Or the computer may emit an odd high pitched sound. In this situation, the text is trying to play back too fast. This Delay option is a global setting for all macros that use the Text Type command. The default setting is zero.

If the scrambled text or high pitched sound occurs when playing back this type macro, then adding a delay will help. The delay is in micro seconds, or thousandths of a millisecond. Start at 1000 microseconds, test the results and so on until finding the ultimate setting.

Use the Hardware High Speed Timer when Possible

Some computers make use of a high speed timer. Macro Express makes use of this timer in calculating delays. If the system does not use this timer, then leave this option unchecked.

On other systems the timer does not work properly. Do not select this option in this circumstance either.

Wait ____ Milliseconds between Clipboard Commands

This option inserts a default 250 millisecond delay for each clipboard command in a macro. Windows requires a little bit of time to process a clipboard command. A 250 millisecond delay is adequate for most systems.

If the clipboard commands don't seem to be responding correctly, experiment with the timing and adjust the setting. This option also reduces the need to insert Delay commands after each clipboard command.

Wait ____ Milliseconds after Executing the Window Activate Command

This option instructs the macro to wait a minimum of 250 seconds after activating a window before continuing with the next macro command. The default setting is 250 milliseconds. This setting may also be adjusted as needed.