Before using this tutorial, you must have MasterStrokes installed by following the directions specified in the Installation Guide. If you have MasterStrokes installed, open MacWrite, Microsoft Word, FullWrite Professional, Word Perfect or some other word processor so you may follow along with the examples presented.
Before describing how macros are created and assigned, let’s take a brief look at how MasterStrokes macro files are organized.
MASTERSTROKES MACRO FILES
There can be two different macro files operating at any given moment: The “Current” macro file and the “Universal” macro file.
The “Current” file is the macro file created for a specific application. Its name is derived from its auto-loading feature assuming all of the conditions for auto-loading are met. If this application-specific file is named just like the application with “-101” suffix (in reference to the MAC-101 keyboard), it will be activated automatically when you open the application. For example, if you have a macro file named “MacWrite-101” in the Macro Folder, this will be the “Current” macro file whenever you open MacWrite. In addition, auto-loading of the Current macro file requires the macro file to be stored in a folder labeled “Macro Folder” and the Macro Folder not be stored inside another folder.
JUST A REMINDER: AUTO-LOADING OF APPLICATION-SPECIFIC MACRO FILES OCCURS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN YOU OPEN THE APPLICATION. THE MACRO FILE MUST BE NAMED EXACTLY LIKE THE APPLICATION WITH A "-101" SUFFIX (NAMED AUTOMATICALLY FOR NEW MACRO FILES) AND RESIDE IN A FOLDER NAMED "MACRO FOLDER." THE MACRO FOLDER CANNOT RESIDE IN ANY OTHER FOLDER.
The “Universal” file is a global macro file that is always in operation. This file is designed to execute commands that are common among most Macintosh applications (like Save, Open and New) as well as the Special Functions for shutdown, reboot, window scrolling, etc. (see Universal File - Special Functions).
Obviously, if two macro files can be active simultaneously, one must take precedence over the other. In such cases, the Current macro file (or any open macro file) takes precedence over the Universal file. For example, if F1 is assigned as Command-S (Save) in the Universal File and is also assigned as Command-P (Print) in the Current File, pressing F1 will execute the Print command.
If you have MacWrite or Microsoft Word opened, there will be a Current MasterStrokes macro file active that is specific to either application.
• Press F15 to display the Keyboard Definition screen
This is the macro file we’ve created and is ready to use. However, for the purpose of following along with this tutorial, you’ll be instructed to create a new macro file so the supplied original remains intact.
• Press F15 or click the Close button on the Keyboard Definition screen
CREATING A NEW MACRO FILE
MasterStrokes macro files are created or opened by pressing the Option+F15 set of Hot Keys to present the macro file menu dialog box. If a Current macro file is already active, this same Hot Key combination will close the Current file.
• Press Option+F15 to close the Current macro file
• Press Option+F15 again to open the macro file menu dialog box
Current Application File – This button will be active only when there is present in the Macro Folder, a macro file named precisely as the open application followed by “-101”. Clicking this button will open this macro file.
Universal File: Clicking this button will open the Universal macro file and allow you to make function key assignments by pressing the Keyboard Definition and Mouse Assignments Hot Keys.
New: Clicking this button brings up the standard filename dialog box. The filename will already match the open application if a Current macro file does not already exist. After naming the macro file, clicking the create button will load this new file into memory. You may now access the Keyboard Definition and Mouse Assignment displays for this new macro file by pressing the appropriate set of Hot Keys.
Open: Clicking this button will open the macro file that is high-lighted in the file menu. The Open command is also executed by double-clicking any macro file listed in the menu.
Cancel: Closes the file menu box.
To follow our tutorial:
• Click the New button to present the filename dialog box
• Type the filename “Tutorial-101”
• Click the Create button
The new macro file Tutorial-101 is now active and ready for assignment.
NOTE: WHEN YOU ARE USING AN APPLICATION WHICH DOES NOT YET HAVE A "CURRENT" (I.E., APPLICATION-SPECIFIC) MASTERSTROKES MACRO FILE, THE NEW MACRO FILE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE NAMED IN THE FILENAME DIALOG BOX.
CREATING MACROS IN KEYBOARD MODE
The Keyboard Definition display is primarily used for assigning program keyboard commands to MAC-101’s function keys. It is also where pre-existing macros, including both keyboard assignments and mouse recordings are edited and printed as a hardcopy listing. To bring up the Keyboard Definition screen:
• Press the F15 key
Function Key button: click here for assigning keyboard commands to a funtion key.
Glossary button: click here for assigning boilerplate text to an abbreviated keyboard entry.
Entry box: where you enter (1) the function key, or modified function key (i.e., shift, command, option + function key) to which you want to assign keyboard commands; or (2) the abbreviation used to call up boilerplate text in glossary mode.
Label box: where you enter a label to reference the function key or glossary assignment. This label will appear in the Key Assignments box and print-out.
Definition box: where you enter (1) the actual keyboard command that you will assign to the function key entered in the Entry box; or (2) the boilerplate text that you wish to have called up upon typing the abbreviation that’s entered in the Entry box in glossary mode. This is also where you do all editing of existing keyboard assignments and mouse recordings.
Key Assignments: where the macro filename appears along with the list of function key and glossary assignments.
Assign button: clicking here assigns the function key or glossary assignment made in the Entry box. The assignment will now appear in the Key Assignments box.
Edit button: used for editing an assignment. Click to highlight the listing in the Key Assignments box and then click the Edit button. The assignment will appear in the Entry, Label and Definition fields. Click the field you wish to edit and re-enter the function key, glossary abbreviation, label or keyboard command. Simple, single-click macro recordings, such as choosing a single item from a pull-down menu cannot be edited and must be changed by re-recording. (Therefore, highlighting this type of assignment in the Key Assignments box will not render the Edit button clickable.)
Remove button: used for deleting an assignment. Click to highlight the assignment in the Key Assignments box and then click the Remove button to delete the entry.
Paste button: used for pasting text into the Definition box from the clipboard that you wish to use as part of a macro.
Help button: brings up help screens to assist you with using MasterStrokes.
Close button: used to close the Keyboard Definition display. Pressing the Keyboard Hot Key (F15) will effect the same results.
MODIFIED CHARACTER DISPLAYS
The modified characters in both the Entry and Definition boxes are listed below. Combining Shift, Command, Option and Control (SE and Mac II models only) with MAC-101’s fifteen function keys offers you more keys for assigning than you will probably require for any single application.
• With the cursor flashing in the Entry box, press the following key combinations to see how the characters are displayed:
Note that the Numeric Keypad can be used for assignment in two different ways: as a standard Numeric Keypad entry ( keypad symbol + 7 ) or as a numeric keypad entry in Window Lock mode (w7 ). The latter is activated by pressing Right Option (Right Control for SE and Mac II models) and the Clear key simultaneously (see Universal File – Special Functions).
Numeric pad entries are designated with a numeric pad symbol followed by the number entered. In Window Lock mode, these same keys are represented by a w with subscript for the number entered. Window Lock keys are generally used for window control functions such as scrolling and zooming, however, they are really no more than another set of assignable function keys.
• With the cursor blinking in the Entry box, press any of the Numeric Pad keys.
To put the Numeric Pad in Window Lock mode:
• Press Right Option + Clear (Rt Control + Clear on SE & Mac II) to toggle on the Window Lock light
• Now press the Numeric Pad (or better, the Window Lock) keys
ASSIGNING KEYBOARD COMMANDS TO THE FUNCTION KEYS
With the Keyboard Definition screen displayed and the cursor blinking in the Entry box, assign F1 to the function “Find”:
• Press the F1 key
• Tab to the Label field
• Type “Find”
• Tab to the Definition field
• Hold down the Command key and type F
• Click the Assign button
The F1 assignment now appears in the Key Assignments list.
Congratulations! You have just created your first MasterStrokes macro!
Assigning commands to modified function keys is just as simple. With the cursor blinking in the Entry field:
• Press Shift+F1
• Tab to the Label field
• Type “Go To”
• Tab to the Definition field
• Press Command + G and click the Assign button
The Shifted F1 assignment is now listed. To test your macro assignments:
• Press F15 or click the close button to close the Keyboard Definition screen
• Press F1 to present the “Find” dialog box
• Click Cancel (or press ESC)
• Press Shift+F1 to present the to “Go To Page” dialog box
• Click Cancel (or press ESC)
That’s all there is to it! You have successfully programmed your first set of macros!
ASSIGNING TEXT OR PHRASES IN TEXT MODE
Another mode for keyboard macro assignment in MasterStrokes is Glossary. This mode is selected by clicking the Glossary radio button in the Keyboard Definition display.
Glossary mode provides for the assignment of boilerplate text and phrases to a one or two character abbreviation; when you type the abbreviation, preceded and followed by a space, the called-up text string replaces the abbreviation in your document. While you can assign text to a function key (in Function Key mode), typically you would use the function keys to execute keyboard commands, macro recordings and the like. Glossary mode is designed specifically for calling up boilerplate text from typed abbreviations. Try the following example:
• Press F15 to bring up the Keyboard Definition screen
• Click the Glossary button
• Type the abbreviation: dd in the Entry Field
• Tab to the label field and type: DataDesk
• Tab to the Definition field and type
"DataDesk International - makers of the world’s finest keyboards"
• Click the Assign button
The abbreviation and label appear in the Key Assignments box.
• Close the Keyboard Defintion screen by pressing F15
• Type in your word processing document as you normally would, and at some point enter the dd abbreviation (surrounded by spaces) The phrase will be called up instantly
Use caution when choosing abbreviations, making sure not to use common two-letter words such as “at” or “to.” Also make certain that the text string that is to be called up does not contain the abbreviation surrounded by spaces; in our example, if we had written “dd” in the Definition field instead of DataDesk, the execution of the glossary function in our document would result in an endless loop. In other words, as soon as the phrase was called up by typing “dd,” MasterStrokes would see another “space-dd-space” in the phrase, and call up the phrase again, and again, and again.
Glossary is not limited to word processing. You will find this feature very useful for many other types of programs, including spreadsheet and database applications.
ASSIGNING MACROS IN MOUSE RECORD MODE.
Mouse Record mode of MasterStrokes should be viewed as a “tape recording” of your mouse and keyboard actions. In its simplest form, you can record the action of choosing an item from a pull-down menu and assigning it to a function key, recording only one click. In more complex forms you can record the action of choosing a pull-down menu item, clicking radio buttons in dialog boxes, typing text, etc. Assigning these multi-step mouse and keyboard actions to a single function key is tapping the true power of the MAC-101 and MasterStrokes.
Steps for Recording:
1. Begin recording by pressing the Hot-Keys for Record Mode — Command+F15.
NOTE: YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE STARTED RECORDING — THE POINTER TURNS INTO A MOUSE!
2. Use your Macintosh and mouse pointer as you normally would to record the sequence of actions you wish to assign to a function key. Nothing is actually recorded until you begin using your mouse or keyboard. Relax and take your time; your macro plays back at a high speed, regardless of the speed at which you recorded it.
3. End your recording by pressing the Record Mode Hot-Key — Command+F15.
4. The Key Assignment Display appears for you to assign and label your recording. Enter the key you wish to assign the recording to in the Function Key field, tab to the Label field and name the recording appropriately. Your assignment will be listed in the Key Assignments box of the Keyboard Definition display (along with all of your other macros). Recordings that are more complex than simple, single- click menu selections can be edited in the Key Assignments box.
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT MACRO RECORDINGS
You should play back a macro in the same environment in which you recorded it. If the recording doesn’t play back properly, check to make sure that you are in the same type of environment. For example, if your page set up, tab settings, font, etc. are set up differently from when you made the recording, the play back will be different since the environment has changed.
Your macro should be designed to establish a certain condition or state before executing the macro. The following example best illustrates this:
• Press Command+F15 to begin recording
• Choose Italic from the appropriate pull-down menu
• Press Command+F15 to end the recording
• Press F5 and Return twice. The recording is now assigned to F5.
• Test the recording by typing in your document. Your characters should be italic. Press F5 again to toggle off Italic.
Now when you're typing, you can quickly press F5 to select or deselect Italic instead of having to detour to the mouse.
You might want to assign F5 only to activate Italic and let's say F6 for Plain Text. In this case your macro would include the creation of a particular “state” before activating Italic.
• Press Command+F15 to begin recording
• With the “mouse” pointer, choose Plain Text
• Now choose Italic
• Press Command+F15 to end the recording and present the Key Assignment box
• Press the F5 key followed by Tab
• Label the recording “Italic”
• Press Return
• Press Return again to the “Replace exisiting macro” dialog box
• Press Command+F15 to begin recording
• Choose Plain Text
• Press Command+F15 to end the recording
• Press F6 followed by Return twice
You have now assigned F5 to Italic and F6 to Plain text. Type away and see how quickly you can change styles using the function keys.
Establishing a standard state is also important when you record scrolling in a document or pull-down menu dialog box (i.e. Word’s font box in the Character menu display). In such cases, begin your recording by dragging the scroll box to the top of the scroll bar to create a standard reference point and then click the scroll bar space, or the down arrow until you can select the item or area you wish. Remember, scrolling is a variable activity and cannot be precisely timed.
NOTE: MOUSE RECORD MODE DOES NOT RECORD FULL DETAILS OF YOUR MOUSE MOTIONS. TO SAVE MEMORY, MASTERSTROKES RECORDS ONLY THE POINT AT WHICH YOU CLICK THE MOUSE AND THE POINT AT WHICH YOU RELEASE THE MOUSE FOR ANY SINGLE MOTION.
EDITING MACROS
All macro editing takes place in the Keyboard Definition screen. To edit a macro simply click to select the macro in the Key Assignments box and click the Edit button to display your original assignment in all of the fields. To change the function key, special key, or glossary abbreviation in the Entry field or their names in the Label field, simply click on the field and re-type.
You may change the keyboard command, macro recording and/or glossary text by positioning the insertion pointer in the appropriate location, clicking the mouse and pressing Backspace to remove all or part of the entry.
Mouse clicks made in Record mode are listed as mouse characters. Each mouse character represents one mouse click. You delete mouse clicks by deleting the mouse characters as if they were commands or text.
NOTE: IF CLICKING ON A PARTICULAR MACRO LISTING DOES NOT HIGHLIGHT THE EDIT BUTTON, THEN THAT PARTICULAR MACRO CANNOT BE EDITED. THE MACRO IS PROBABLY THE RECORDING OF CHOOSING A PULL-DOWN MENU ITEM (I.E., A SINGLE-CLICK MACRO). SUCH MACROS CANNOT BE EDITED AND CAN ONLY BE REPLACED.
UNIVERSAL MACRO FILE.
The “Universal” file is a global macro file that is always active. This file is designed to execute commands that are common among most Macintosh applications (like Save, Open and New) as well as the Special Functions for shut down, reboot, window scrolling, etc. Assignments made in this file are always active so long as there isn’t an overriding assignment for the same key in the Current macro file.
The Universal file’s Keyboard Definition and Macro Recording screens are accessible when the Universal file is the “Current” or active macro file. This is performed by opening the macro file menu dialog box and clicking the Universal File button:
• Press Option+F15 to close the Tutorial-101 macro file
• Press Option+F15 again to present the macro file menu dialog box
• Click the Universal File button
The Universal macro file is now the Current file.
• Press F15 to bring up the Keyboard Definition display
Note that the macro filename “Universal” appears above the Key Assignments box. Function key assignments and Macro Recordings are created for the Universal file in the same manner as the Current macro files. These assignments are listed in the Key Assignments box and can be printed for quick reference by clicking the Print button.
Universal File – Default Settings in the Key Assignments Box
The default key assignments of the Universal file execute the most common operations for all Macintosh applications. The default assignments can be easily changed and edited. Also, if MasterStrokes is active the default assignments will be in effect even if there is no application-specific macro file open.
A list of the Universal File default settings are presented in the following table:
Function Key Name How Defined Description
PASTE Paste Cmd-V Standard Mac Definition
CUT Cut Cmd-X Standard Mac Definition
COPY Shift+Cut Cmd-C Standard Mac Definition
HOME Home W7(Wind. Lock) Scroll to Beginning of Text
END End W1 (Wind. Lock) Scroll to End of Text
PAGE UP Page Up W9 (Wind. Lock) Scroll One Screen Up
PAGE DWN Page Dwn W3 (Wind. Lock) Scroll One Screen Down
CANCEL* ESC Cmd . (period) Standard Mac Definition
UNDO* Shift+ESC Cmd-Z Standard Mac Definition
* Mac SE/II versions only.
Also note that there is a new button in the Universal File Keyboard Definition screen: The Functions button. Clicking and holding the Functions button presents a menu of special functions.
Universal File – Special Functions
The Functions button of the Universal File Keyboard Definition screen gives you access to four Special Functions assignment displays. Each display has a set of functions or operations that are assigned to Numeric Pad and Window Lock keys. These special functions are operations that would normally require the mouse. Even though the MAC-101’s Window Lock keys are used for most of the Special Functions default settings, they may be easily changed or substituted with a key(s) of your choice.
Windows: This selection allows you to assign keys to perform various window control functions, including Close, Zoom, Next and Last.
Scrolling: This selection allows you to assign keys for window scrolling (i.e., moving the elevator), Page Up-Down and Home-End operations. Typically, these functions are assigned to the MAC-101’s exclusive Window Lock Function keys (see the Default Settings of the Special Functions below).
Date: This selection allows you to assign keys to bring up the current date in two different formats automatically.
Launch: This selection allows you to assign keys for automatic shut-down, rebooting or switching to another application in MultiFinder.
Default Settings of the Special Functions
The Special Functions displays of the Universal File are “factory” preassigned but can be modified by simply clicking the field and typing in the key. The Special Functions assignments can only be made and edited in the Universal File. As noted above, any key assignment made in an application macro file will override the same key assigned in the Universal File.
The Default Settings for each Special Functions display is listed below along with a brief description of what each function is used for:
Window
Close W5 Like clicking the close box on front window
Zoom W0 Like double-clicking the zoom box on front window
Next CmdNum/ Brings up the next window
Last OptNum/ Brings up the window displayed prior to the front window
Scrolling
Scroll Up W8 Like clicking the scroll up arrow
Scroll Dwn W2 Like clicking the scroll down arrow
Scroll Left W4 Like clicking the scroll left arrow
Scroll Rt W6 Like clicking the scroll right arrow
Pge Up W9 Like clicking the space above the vertical scroll box
Pge Dwn W3 Like clicking the space below the vertical scroll box
Pge Lft CmdW4 Like clicking the space to the left of the horizontal scroll box
Pge Rt CmdW6 Like clicking the space to the right of the horizontal scroll box
Home W7 Go to beginning of document
End W1 Go to end of document
Date
6/3/88 CmdOpt+F13 Date format as: m/d/yr
June 3, 1988 CmdOpt+F14 Date format as: Month, Date, Year
Fri, June 3, 1988 CmdOptShift+F13 Abbrev. Day, Mth, Date, Yr.
Friday, June 3, 1988 CmdOptShift+F14 Date format as: Day, Mth, Date, Yr.
Launch
Reboot CmdOptNum.(period) Shutting down and restarting
ShutDown CmdOptNum0 Shut Down
Switch CmdNum* Like clicking the MultiFinder icon to switch applications.
NOTE: USE CAUTION WITH THE REBOOT AND SHUTDOWN FUNCTIONS SINCE THEY ARE EXECUTED WITHOUT SAVING YOUR CURRENT APPLICATION FILE. TYPICALLY THESE COMMANDS ARE USED AT THE FINDER LEVEL ONLY.
Window Lock Mode
As mentioned earlier, the Window Lock mode of the MAC-101 turns the eleven (11) number keys on the numeric keypad into an additional set of “function keys.” Window Lock mode is activated by holding down the right Option key on the MAC Plus keyboard (Control key on the MAC II/SE keyboard) together with the Clear key. This two-key combination toggles the numeric keypad in and out of Window Lock mode quickly and easily. If the keyboard is in the Window Lock mode, the LED labeled Window Lock on the MAC-101 is illuminated.
In Window Lock mode the MasterStrokes software displays the numeric keypad number with a “W” as a prefix to designate it as a Window Lock key (i.e., w1 indicates the numeric keypad's “1” key in Window Lock mode).
Even though the Window Lock keys are pre-assigned for various Special Functions, they are really no more than an additional set of assignable function keys. You may assign the Window Lock keys to perform any function you desire. Simply toggle-on Window Lock and enter the key you wish to assign in the Keyboard Definition screen's Entry box.
REDEFINING THE HOT KEYS
You can easily modify the Hot Keys default settings in the System Control Panel. This also is where you deactivate MasterStrokes altogether should you ever need to.
• Close the Keyboard Definition screen if it is open
• Choose Control Panel from the Apple menu
• Click the scroll down arrow of the program menu until the MasterStrokes icon appears
• Click on the MasterStrokes icon
The control panel now displays the MasterStrokes Hot Key assignment panel. You see the following default setting:
FILE Option+F15 Brings up macro file menu (also closes the Current macro file)
KEYBOARD F15 Brings up the Keyboard Definition display
RECORD Command+F15 Starts and stops macro record mode
To change a Hot Key assignment, simply click on the row of keys you wish to redefine. A box will appear surrounding the row of keys. Now type the new set of Hot Keys, using either Option and/or Command modifiers. The Option and Command keys will appear as being pressed if used as a modifier and not pressed if not used. The third key is the actual Hot Key and is pressed while holding down the modifiers. You may press any key on the MAC-101 as the Hot Key and it will be labeled accordingly in the Control Panel. Be prudent in selecting Hot Keys, as not to disable other important Macintosh functions.
You may also deactivate MasterStrokes from the Control Panel by clicking on the push-button at the top of the display.
Close the Control Panel and your new Hot Key assignments are ready to go.
