Macro Explorer

By default Macro Express opens to the Macro Express Pro - Explorer window. This window displays a list of macros contained in the file currently open. The Macro Explorer is the starting point for creating new macros or editing existing ones.

Left click on the Macro Express icon in the notification area or press the system macro Ctrl + Alt + Shift + W

The icons at the top of the Macro Explorer window are the primary methods for navigating through the program. Clicking on any of these icons will load a different program function.

	New File	Create a new macro (.mex) file.
	Open File	Open an existing macro (.mex) file. Or click on the triangle button to view a list of recently used macro files and select one to open.
	New Macro	Click on the New Macro button to start the process of building a macro in the Script Editor or Direct Editor. The first step prompts to select an activation method and assign a name to the macro. The next step opens the Script Editor to begin creating the macro. The Script Editor is the default editor. If desired, click on the Direct Editor icon while in the Script Editor to switch to the Direct Editor.
	Run Now	Click this button to run the macro that is highlighted in the Macro Express Pro - Explorer window.
	Edit Macro	Highlight a macro from the list of already created macros. Click on the Edit Macro button to open the Script Editor and display the macro. Or double click on the macro in the list to open it in the Script Editor.
	Capture	Starts the process for recording or capturing a macro. Keystrokes and mouse clicks/movements are recorded and saved.
	Quick Wizards	Opens the Quick Wizards dialog. There are 25+ different wizards to provide step by step instructions for creating various macro types.
	Recycle Bin	Macro Express has its own recycle bin. Any macros deleted from the Macro Explorer are sent to the Recycle Bin. If a macro is deleted by mistake it can be restored to its original file. Or the macros in the recycle bin may be removed permanently.

Use the Categories option to assign macros to user defined categories. With large numbers of macros created, the categories provide an easy way to locate macros for further editing, refinement, exporting, etc.

For example create a Password category to hold any macros containing important passwords or assign any MS Word specific macros to a MS Word category. This makes it easy to quickly find the macro needed.

Upon installation there are three default categories - System Macros, All Categories and Unassigned. These categories may not be renamed or deleted. Additional categories may be created as shown in this example. Since Macro Express allows more than one macro file to be open at a time, multiple sets of categories may be displayed - a set for each open file.

The Macros section displays the list of macros in the file or category that is currently open. When saving macros in the editors, quick wizards or with a macro capture, the program will return to the Macro Explorer. The list of macro information is displayed in six columns.

The index column lists the macros in the order that they were created. The first macro created in the file displays as number 1, the second macro as number 2, etc.

Optionally assign a nickname to any macro to help more readily identify the purpose of the macro. Any not assigned a nickname display with a blank field.

The Activation column displays the method selected to execute the macro. This column displays the hot key combinations, any timed macros, the letter combinations used for any shortkeys or any other type of activation method chosen. If more than one activation is assigned to the macro, this column displays Multiple for that macro. If the Show Preview Pane option is selected highlight the macro to view all of the activations in this pane.

This column lists the macro scope, whether it is global, global except, window specific, program specific, a system macro, a popup menu or a floating menu.

The Modified column displays the date and time that the macro was last modified.

To quickly sort the list of macros displayed, click on one of the column headers, Nickname, Activation, Scope, Category, Modified or Last Run. The macros will be sorted based on the column header selected. Click on the header a second time to reverse the sort order.

Keystroke	Action
Ctrl+F	Find
F3	Find Again
Delete	Delete highlighted macro
Ctrl+P	Print macro list

These keyboard shortcuts are used to navigate through the program. These keystrokes perform the same function as clicking on the Actions Icons in the left hand column of the program.

Keystroke	Action
Alt+E	Edit highlighted macro, when not in the Macro Recycle bin.
Alt+E	Return to Macro Explorer from Recycle Bin
Alt+N	New Macro
Alt+P	Capture
Alt+Q	Quick Wizards
Alt+B	Recycle Bin