Get Control

The Get Control command saves the control information to a variable. A capture utility is launched to select buttons, edit boxes, etc. that can be used later in the macro. Use the Capture Control command to obtain the control information during playback of the macro.

Script Editor > Expand Window Controls Category > Get Control

Launch Utility

Below is an image of the window that appears when launching the control utility. Place the mouse cursor on the crosshair image, hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse over the control needed. Drag it over title bars, buttons, edit boxes, forms, toolbars, etc.

After selecting the control, release the left mouse button. The Control Details edit field is populated with the control information. Click on the Save button to return to the Get Control Window. The control information is saved in the Get Control Window.

Expand Window Controls Category > Get Control > Launch Utility Button

Save the Control Using the Z-Order of the Control

This method saves the control information based on the order in which the controls are created or manipulated by the parent program. In some applications, the z-order may change without notice or the user being able to determine that it has changed.

Save the Control Using the Contents of the Control

This option makes the capture of a control more exact by also capturing the text found in the control. So for example, assume capturing an edit box with the word Test in it. During playback the macro looks for the edit box and verifies that it contains the word Test. If the edit box text is changed to something else, such as Reset or left blank, then the control that was captured, such as C[1], will not match the actual control in the window - edit box.

Save the Control Using its Coordinates

There are some controls that change information each time the window with the control is opened or the program with the control is restarted as mentioned above. This renders the information saved to the control obsolete and the control will not be found the next time the macro is run. This Coordinates option saves the control information based on the location of the control in the window.

Relative to the Bottom Right

Typically the coordinates of the control are measured from the top, left corner of the window that contains the control. Use this alternative method to obtain the position of the control from the bottom, right corner of the window.

Restore Parent Window Size

This option restores the size of the parent window (the window that contains the control) to the size of the window when the original capture of the control was made.

Hide Macro Express

Hide Macro Express does what it implies. The program hides or gets out of the way after pressing the Launch Get Control Utility. This makes it easier to locate the application containing the control to capture.

Store the Control In

Select the variable to store the control name and information.

Top Level Window Caption

The Top Level Window Caption contains the text that appears in the Window Title of the application where the control was captured.

Partial Match

A partial match allows the Control variable to find a Window Title that partially matches the name defined in the control.

Exact Match

An exact match requires that the Control variable find the Window Title that matches exactly - letter for letter.

Use Wildcards

Select this option if using a wildcard in the window title. A wildcard would include a * or ??? characters in the title to expand the possibilities of a match.

üNote: Not every button, menu item or component on a program is actually a Control. Sometimes the only control in a given program is the window or dialog that pops up when the program starts. We have also noticed that many of Microsoft's programs seem to have fewer controls than programs from other manufacturers. How the controls work depends on how the program was written.