MeSue

What software is available for PPC/WM5 to do text macros? What I mean by that is where you assign a long text sting to a short text string and when you type the short string, it expands into the longer one. Like, I might assign 'adr' to expand into my full address so I don't have to type it all. I want something that works in any program.

I have been using Pen Commander that comes with Calligrapher, but this only works when you use Calligrapher's input methods.

What else is there?

cravaus

There are a couple solutions that I can think of. MortScript is one. Another is to edit the built in correction dictionary that is in the windows file. Editing it is some times tricky and I think there have been some posts on this. Some times it acts like a read only file and you have to rename it or something then cut it from one file and paste it into windows. I forget the hole process but it does work. See http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=110160. I have added thaings like pct which expands to "I made a phone call to " and so on. Transcriber also has some expanding features but if you are using caligrapher I doubt you will use Transcriber.

You can run pen commander macros from a shortcut and have a menu of them launched from a program like "program menu". You can also do the same with MortScript macros. Look at the documentation from mortscript for their method. For a pencommander macro just make a shortcut with the following string "\Program Files\CalliGrapher\PenCmd.exe" /M <name of macro>. This is assuming that pencommander is in main memory. If not change the string to reflect the path on a storage card.

If you want to launch your macro from a button on the PDA you need to make a file in the StartMenu Programs file and then you will be able to access that macro from a buton weather or not you have caligrapher running.

To launch macros from hot keys, you can also edit the registry. To launch Pencommander Macro's from the keyboard you either need to use a launching program like HipKeys (http://www.onhiatus.com/Software/HiPKeys.html ), or edit your registery.

Hipkeys method:
What I have done is typed in a command line in the prompt for the win+ key such as:

"\Built-in Storage\CalliGrapher\PenCmd.exe" /m dl

and this launches my dl macro which happens to be my long date format date stamp.

HipKeys works well but it blocks out some keys for use because on HP Jornada Clamshell devices (for which it was made) some keys are hard wired in the system to launch particular applications. Not so with the PPC. So to access every key possibility you have to go directly into the registry (be careful). The following works just fine with my Dell Axim X30 using a ThinkOutside Bluetooth Keyboard:

1. Use a registry editor to go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/MICROSOFT/SHELL/KEYS

2. Use your registry editor to add a new key. Name it the number of the keyboard letter or number you want to use to launch a program (e.g. 4043 for letter "C") . See below for a list of codes for keyboard keys.

3. Use your registry editor to add a new string value. The name of the string value should be "default". The value data should be a path to your PenCommander with a switch to your desired macro such as "\Built-in Storage\PhatWare CalliGrapher\PenCmd.exe" /m cc, this launches my OPClip macro to copy my selected data to a common clip board when I hit Win+C.

You can launch anything from this method including commonly used documents. This is not possible with the hotkeys provided with Thinkoutside.

Keyboard keys:
4030 =0
4031 =1
4032 =2
4033 =3
4034 =4
4035 =5
4036 =6
4037 =7
4038 =8
4039 =9

4041 =A
4042 =B
4043 =C
4044 =D
4045 =E
4046 =F
4047 =G
4048 =H
4049 =I
404A =J
404B =K
404C =L
404D =M
404E =N
404F =O
4050 =P
4051 =Q
4052 =R
4053 =S
4054 =T
4055 =U
4056 =V
4057 =W
4058 =X
4059 =Y
405A =Z

Enjoy
Craig

cravaus

Also, you can make a file of your favorite macro shortcuts and you can launch them with ProgramMenu. I have ProgramMenu assigned to a button and I have macros catagorized in separate files pre their use. Those are my tricks.

socpsy

This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but it's a neat little program from DinarSoft that is handy for text insertion. TapText.

cravaus

Tap Text style entry is exactly what you get if you use Program Menu (free) and put MortScript macros (free) into the main directory for Program Menu. You do not get the clever icon options however. You do get the ability to have more complex macros than just text macros. I really like to use macros. I am suprised that there is not so much enthusiasm for macro use for the PPC.

MeSue

Quote:

Also, you can make a file of your favorite macro shortcuts and you can launch them with ProgramMenu. I have ProgramMenu assigned to a button and I have macros catagorized in separate files pre their use. Those are my tricks.

@Cravaus: You mean you can do that without any extra software? How? I'm going to re-read your first reply after the Holiday… company will be here any minute, but thanks for the detailed response.

@Socpsy: Thanks. I have downloaded TapText and will give it a trial.

Part of the reason I asked is that I'm trying out different SIPs and I'm not sure if I will stick primarily to Calligrapher, Fitaly, or something else.

cravaus

You need the program called ProgramMenu to do what I was saying. It is easy. You just need to make your main folder something other than StartMenu. Just put all your macros in that file. You can make subfiles to catagorize all your macros.

MeSue

Ahhh… okay! When I read ProgramMenu I was thinking start menu. It all makes much more sense now. ;) I am really liking the Fitaly keyboard and I'm creating custom slides for most of the common text strings I use. Gonna stick to it for a week and then see how it feels going back to Calligrapher. But I will check out ProgramMenu and Mortscript too. I love macros!