Macro Automation Software for Windows

FreeMacroPlayer Version History

Version 7.5.2 - May 14, 2012

1. Fixed a newly introduced problem with macro hot-keys.
2. Fixed a problem when multiple instances of the program could be started.
3. Fixed a problem when macro syntax was false recognized as invalid.

Version 7.5.1 - May 04, 2012

1. Improved new version notification window. It is possible to directly download new version or go to this page to read what is new first.
2. Added  <CapsLock_ON>, <CapsLock_OFF>,  <NumLock_ON>, <NumLock_OFF>,<ScrollLock_ON> and <ScrollLock_OFF>,  commands (not in Free edition).
3. Fixed a problem when Shift or other control keys remained in "pressed" state after macro was started using a hot-key.
4. Fixed "run as a different user" option.
5. Fixed a problem with .mcr files that sometimes did not start execution after double-clicking on them.
6. Fixed <execappex> and <external_command> commands. When "wait for application exit" option was set the system hung up.
7. Fixed a syntax error when a command last parameter was empty.

Version 7.5.0 - February 23, 2012

1. Time schedule trigger can wake up computer before macro is started. It is now possible to schedule macros that will be started also at the time when computer is in sleep or hibernate mode.
2. It is not necessary to release control key to repeatedly start macro using hot key. If hot key is Ctrl+D then it is possible to just hit D key while keeping Ctrl key down.
3. Fixed a problem when macros running in Excel sometimes caused the Excel to crashed.
4. Mouse buttons are not automatically released after macro is finished.
5. Fixed a problem when extended hot keys sometimes reacted after too long time.
6. Performance was improved, the program does not consume CPU when active windows are switched.
7. Exit code added to <execappex> command.
8. "Folder" trigger now watches files also in subfolders
9. Fix:  clipboard macros now works properly in Word 2010.
10. Added support for mouse wheel.
11. Added support for keyboard connected/disconnected detection.
12. <multimedia> command fixed to properly work on Windows 7 and Vista.
13. Fixed screensaver related commands.
14. Added "double-click" command <m2click>.
15. Added "square root" operation to <var_oper>(..., CALC_EXPRESSION, ...) command.
16. Fixed a problem when window was not properly activated before macro was started.
17. Fixed a problem with indexing macro variable in arrays (when variable index is "01" or "02" instead of "1" or "2").
18. Fixed <win_capture> window browse button to uses WIP.
19. Fixed a problem with mouse triggers on dual screen computers
20. Fixed a problem when the program sometimes did not start minimized to tray as defined in settings.
21. Fixed macro toolbars behavior on dual screen computers.
22. "Hold mouse button" trigger fixed.
23. Fixed a problem with expression evaluation.
24. Many other smaller changes and fixes...

Version 7.4.8 - February 7, 2011

1. Added parameters to limit search area in <display_findimage> and <win_findimage> commands.
2. Added wildcards (* and ?) support to windows identification path (WIP). A window identification in window manipulation commands (such as <actwin>) is more flexible now.
3. Added "always on top" parameter to the <msg> command.
4. Added "show OK and Cancel buttons" parameter to the <form_show> command. OK and Cancel button in user defined forms are now optional.
5. Fix: Occasional hang ups in <shutdown> command (hybernate) fixed.
6. Fix: Status bar in main window is properly updated.
7. Fix: Macro toolbar submenus are properly drawn with user defined background color.
8. Fix: Macro toolbars properly draw separators.
9. Fix: "Ctrl+V" (and "Shift+Insert") clipboard paste function is properly handled in macros that playback text (for example, "This is in clipboard<ctrl>v<ctrl>Did you know that?").
10. Fix: Registration info is not reset when user open "Help/Register" dialog box without entering correct registration info.
11. Fix: "Follow case" feature is fixed for text shortcuts that do not begin by a letter (for example text shortcuts like ".a1" or "-sca").
12. Fix: <if_str> command fixed so that strings can contain brackets.
13. Fix: Windows browser button in <win_findimage> editor fixed.
14. And more smaller fixes and changes...

Version 7.4.7 - July 7, 2010

Changes & fixes:

1. Macro named "_xSharedMacroFileNotFound" (if exists) is called when shared macros file cannot be loaded (does not exist). If this macro is called then the error message is not showing. The macro is intended to allow programatically handle the situations when shared macro file is not accessible (network server down, for example).
2. Startup macros various fixes
3. Problem with windows loosing keyboard focus before macro was started was fixed
4. <clpput>("FILE:....") command fixed
5. Hidden windows can be accessed by window manipulation commands
6. Comments in externaly called macros fixed
7. <if_process>, <process_kill>, <process_enum> commands fixed to work properly with 64-bit processes
8. Fixed a problem when variable manipulated with a string containing bracket characters ( or )
9. 20x slower macro playback added
10. "_vMacroFileLoaded" can be used to programatically load other macro file
11. Identify Windows version updated (Program correctly identifies Windows 7)

Version 7.4.6 - April 18, 2010

Changes & fixes:

1. Installation program is now checking whether a Macro Toolworks family program is running.
2. Fixed a problem with running VBA-like script (the bug introduced in 7.4.5).
3. Improved speed of some keystrokes.
4. Improved clipboard related commands.
5. A few additional smaller fixes.

Version 7.4.5 - March 27, 2010

Changes & fixes:

1. Significantly improved "send macro text through clipboard" feature. This feature can be now used also for macros containing macro commands without any limitation.
2. New "How to send macro text to target application:" option added to settings dialog box. The user can select between "As keystrokes sequence" or "Using clipboard". This option is used as a default for each macro.
3. <varout> command updated.
4. "Macro Properties" tab was simplified by moving more advanced and rarely used options to a dialog box accessible using new "More" button.
5. Link to web page with macro examples was added to "Macro Text" tab.
6. <if...> command fixes.
7. <winclose> command fixes.
8. <var_oper>(...,CALC_EXPRESSION,...) command fixes.
9. <email_smtp_sendmail> command extended with "port" and "SSL" attributes so that the command now can send e-mails using GMail SMTP server.
10. Expressions evaluation fixes.
11. New "_vSharedMacros_ReloadNow" system variable. <varset>("_vSharedMacros_ReloadNow=YES","") command causes the shared macro file is reloaded. Shared macro file reload now can be controlled programmatically using a macro.
12. New "_vOpt_SharedMacros_Enable" system variable. <varset>("_vOpt_SharedMacros_Enable=YES","") command causes the shared macro file is enabled while <varset>("_vOpt_SharedMacros_Enable=NO","") command causes the shared macro file is disabled.
13. New "_vOpt_SharedMacros_File" system variable to programmatically set shared macros file. <varset>("_vOpt_SharedMacros_File=c:\macroFiles\shared.4tw","") command causes the shared macro file is set to "c:\macroFiles\shared.4tw".
14. <clpput> command enhanced so that it can put also file shortcut to the clipboard. Example: <clpput>("FILE:c:\temp\file.txt") command puts shortcut to "c:\temp\file.txt" file to clipboard so that the file then can be copied using Windows Explorer "Paste" menu command.
15. Additional minor fixes.

Version 7.4.0 - November 17, 2009

Changes & fixes:

1. Fixed a problem with starting program with parameters from network drive.
2. Fixed a problem when program did not responded correctly if CPU was overloaded.
3. Fixed a problem with entering characters with diacritic.
4. More smaller fixes.

Version 7.3.9 - October 12, 2009

Changes & fixes:

1. Fixed a problem with sending certain keystrokes on international keyboards.
2. <clppastetext> - Fixed a problem with very large block of text.
3. <clpload> - Fixed a problem when multiple <clpload> commands are called quickly. Is also faster now.
4. <clpsave> - Fixed a problem when multiple <clpsave> commands are called quickly. Is also faster now.
5. <clpempty> - Fixed a problem when multiple <clpload> commands are called quickly.
6. Macro execution (when <cmds>) is faster
7. <beep> - if parameter is "1" then the sound is played asynchronously, if it is "0" the sound is played synchronously.
8. <display_getpixel> returns -1 if the coordinates are out of range.
9. A bug that caused item was unexpectedly disabled when clicked was fixed.
10. <display_findimage> - added exact/tolerant.
11. <win_findimage> - added exact/tolerant.
12. <waitfor> - added exact/tolerant to "wait for image".
13. A problem with command line file parameter starting with server (such as "\\server1\macros\....") was fixed.
14. Window trigger (open) fixed so that it reacts to multiple windows with the same title (WIP).
15. Fixed a problem with activating different Excel files (Book1, Book2, etc.) using <actwin> command.
16. "Paste to end" added to macro editor right-click menu.
17. "Preserve clipboard content during macro execution" option added to Options / More...
18. <form_additem> visual editor fixed.
19. A bug causing the program consumed too much resources was fixed.
20. Many additional smaller fixes and changes.

Version 7.3.8 - July 2nd, 2009

Changes & fixes:

1. On some systems it was necessary to install new runtime libraries from Microsoft.  This is fixed in this version.
2. Macros execution speed was improved.
3. Changes in macros are saved automatically (not necessary to press OK button) when "Auto-save" feature is checked in main options dialog box.
4. Significantly improved reliability of keystrokes sending when "as fast as possible" option is checked.
5. "Lock keyboard and mouse while macro is running" was fixed.  On Vista systems this option works only if the program was started "As administrator".
6. <display_findimage> macro command is much faster now.
7. <win_findimage> macro command is much faster now.
8. A problem with comment macro command (<#>) followed by a command (such as <#> <wx>(250)...) was fixed.
9. <clppastetext> macro command is more reliable now.
10. Other smaller changes and fixes...

Version 7.3.7 - June 8th, 2009

Changes & fixes:

1. <var_oper>(..."CALC_EXPRESSION",..) command fixed.
2. Sending keystrokes "as fast as possible" in Windows XP optimized so that internal Windows keyboard buffer does not get overflowed.
3. Smaller UI improvements.
4. Other small fixes.

Version 7.3.5 - June 1st, 2009

Changes & fixes:

1. Window Identification Path (WIP) failed to correctly identify child windows. This was fixed.
2. <download> command returns errors now.
3. Macro syntax is checked automatically (optional).
4. Macro syntax validation improved.
5. UI improvements & fixes: Tooltips to main toolbar added, some better looking icons used....
6. German language pack updated.
7. In Vista, the program starts with user privileges, however, it can be also started with Admin privileges using "Start...AsAdmin.exe".
8. New "_vKeybdFocusControl" and "_vKeybdFocusControl_HWND" system variables that contain a window control that is currently receiving keyboard input.
9. Smaller macro recording fixes.
10. Other small fixes.

Version 7.2.6 - February 5th, 2009

Changes & fixes:

1. Fixed a problem with macro toolbars on multi-monitor systems.
2. Fixed a bug in <actwin> command.
3. A few more small fixes.

Version 7.2.5 - January 15th, 2009

Changes & fixes:

1. Fixed a problem when Microsoft office clipboard caused problems to expanding macros with "through clipboard" option checked.
2. Fixed: A wrong macro was executed when picked from a list/menu of macros with the same shortcut.
3. Smaller installation program fixes.
4. "Change multiple macros" was changed so that also text with multiple lines can be used.
5. Alt+A hotkey can be used to activate "Commands and System Variables" window.
6. "_vFileDate..." system variables fixed.
7. Other smaller changes and fixes.

Version 7.2.0 - November 15th, 2008

Changes & fixes:

1. German/Deutsch language added.
2. Macro execution speed improved.
3. Support for multiple monitors added: Multiple _vMonitor... system variables added.
4. Key codes (KC:XXX) can be used in <waitfor> and <if_key> commands.  KC:XXX is showing in main window bottom right area when a key is hit - this is how user can get KC for particular key on keyboard.
5. WIP (window identification path) fixes.
6. "Find image" commands behavior changed so that the commands do not fire an error when the image is not found.  The commands only return -1 instead of image position.
7. <macromenu> command was fixed so that the menus correctly react to key shortcuts.
8. <macromenu> changed so that items can be sorted either alphabetically or by user defined order.
9. <run_ctxcommand> now supports also network paths (\\server name\...).
10. Hints window reworked.  It can be brought up using hot key even if it is disabled for automatic showing.
11. Enable/Disable trigger hot key.
12. _vCurrTime_Second and _vCurrTime_Minute was changed so that always provide two digits numbers (01 instead of 1).
13. If a macro execution is paused (by <pause> command or by user) the the execution can be exited directly in this pause state.
14. <msg> command was enhanced so that it does not hide even if there are multiple subsequent macro calls using <run> command.
15. Extended hotkeys behavior improved.
16. <exitmacro_soft> to exit just a subsequent macro called using <run> command was fixed.
17. WIP (Window Identification Path) fixed so that also Window class and title starting with # can be used.
18. Fixed  problems when macro is outputing data using clipboard.

19. Many other smaller changes and fixes...

Version 7.1.1 - August 6th, 2008

Fixes:

1. <macromenu> command fixes.
2. Rare text shortcut expansion problem fixed.
3. Some other minor fixes.

Version 7.1.0 - July 28th, 2008

New features & fixes:

1. Multilanguage support.  In "Languages" subfolder there are .ini files (lang_components_XXX.lang.ini and lang_main_XXX.lang.ini) that contain all texts used in the program.  Making copy of the .ini files and translating the texts inside is all that is necessary to create new language pack.
2. Added <display_captureimage> and <win_captureimage> commands that allow to capture computer screen or its defined part to a bitmap file.
3. Items in <macromenu> menu are sorted alphabetically now.
4. New parameters to <wwwopen> and <www_fillform> added so that the commands can use the same browser window (that can be close then using <winclose> command).
5. Clipboard content is saved and restored when clipboard macro or macro with "Through clipboard" option is executed.
6. New option that allows to show macro toolbar with auto-hide option turned on only if CTRL key is pressed.
7. New window identification (called WIP - window identification path) is introduced.  The WIP allows much more precise window identification and thus adds greater reliability to windows manipulation commands.
8. <fileinfo>command is extended so that it can return file name, file extension and file path.
9. <filecopy> and <filemove> speed was improved.
10. Added <me_macroprogress_show> and <me_macroprogress_hide> commands that allows to control presence of "macro progress" window from macro code.
11. Macro progress window displays name of the macro running.
12. It is possible to compare variable content with a key such as: <if>(varKey==<esc>) ...
13. Import/Export fixed.
14. Fix: In some occasions the program incorrectly recorded (multiply entered keys) and playback macros.
15. Bug that caused that in some rare situations text shortcut was not recognized and was not expanded was fixed.
16. Macro group drag&drop operation fixed.
17. <dircopy> and <dirmove> commands are changed so that the source folder name is not added to the destination folder.
18. <clp_copyselected> command editor fixed.
19. Fixed a bug that crashed the program when a clipboard related operation failed.
20. Fixed problems with "subfolder option" in <filecopy>, <filemove>, <filedel> commands.
21. Fixed problems with DDE data exchange between Basic Script and main program.
22. Fixed problem running Basic Script programs from FreeMacroPlayer.
23. Fixed disabling/enabling triggers using hotkey.
24. Fixed the problem when macro parameters were still kept internally in the program after macro execution was finished.
25. Fixes in help file.
26. Many other smaller changes and fixes...

Version 7.0.1 - March 7th, 2008

New features & fixes:

1. <display_findimage> and <win_findimage> fixes. The commands are now tolerant to slight differences between the original and recognized images.
2. Fixed: these commands did not provide correct results when used repeatedly: <ini_file_read>, <email_pop3_getlist>, <email_pop3_getmail>, <extcmd>.
3. Keystrokes playback fixes.
4. Robustness improvements.

Version 7.0.0 - Final release - 12/22/2007

New features & fixes:

1. Macro file can be optionally protected by a strong AES encryption.
2. <file_encryption> - a command to AES encrypt/decrypt any file.
3. <dir_encryption> - a command to AES encrypt/decrypt all files in a directory including all subdirectories.
4. <extcmd> - run external command.  External command is any command line executable that takes parameters (optionally) and prints results to standard output (optionally).  The command allows customers to extend number of available macro language commands.
5. <remote_macro_call> - a command that allows to run macro on remote machine.  (A Macro Toolworks family product needs to run on the remote machine.)  It is possible to pass parameters to the remote machine and the macro executed on the remote machine can return a result back to the caller.
6. Build-in support for running macros from a remote computer.
7. <www_fillform> - a command that allows to fill a web form (for example password entries) automatically.
8. Macros started using <run> or <extmacro>  commands can take parameters and return results.
9. New "_vMacroResult" system variable.  This variable is used to pass results back to the caller (if the macro was called using <run> command, for example).
10. New "_vMacroParameter" system variable.  This variable is used to pass parameters to the called macro (if the macro was called using <run> command, for example).
11. Native support for date/time arithmetic's.  It is possible to count: date/time = date/time+span or date/time = date/time - span or span = date/time-date/time.
12. UI improvements based on user's feedback.
13. Bugs reported by users are fixed.

Version 7.0.0 - Beta 1 - 10/08/2007 - Initial release.