Creating Macro Recorder commands

You can use the MyCommands Editor—Macro Recorder dialog box to record a sequence of mouse movements and keystrokes. When you say the name of the Macro Recorder command, Dragon plays back these mouse movements and keystrokes.

Before you begin, use your mouse and keyboard to run through the actions to make sure you can perform them smoothly while you record. You may want to make notes to help you through the steps.

If the command is application- or window-specific, be sure the correct application or window is open and active.

To record a macro

  1. Open the MyCommands Editor dialog box (say "Add New Command" or click Add New Command on the Tools menu of the DragonBar).
  2. By default, the MyCommands Editor, auto-text dialog box opens. Select Macro Recorder from the Command Type list to open the MyCommands Editor, Macro Recorder dialog box.
  3. In the MyCommands Editor Name box, enter what you will say to start the command. Choose a phrase that is easy to remember but not likely to be used in normal dictation. For example, you might use a name such as "find recent files."
  4. Click Train if you want to teach Dragon your pronunciation of the command name.
  5. In the Description box, enter a description that will help you identify the command.
  6. In the Group list, specify whether this command will be a Dragon command or a User-defined command. If it is User-defined, you can type over "User-defined" with a group name of your choosing. The new group name will appear in the list the next time you create a command.
  7. Specify whether the command will work everywhere (Global), or only in a specific application which you name, or in a specific window, which you specify.
  8. Click the Record button. The MyCommands Editor window disappears and a floating recorder window appears in the lower-left corner of your screen.
  9. Perform the actions you want to be part of the macro. When you are finished, click the Stop Recording button on the floating recorder.
  10. Close the floating recorder (by clicking the "x" at the upper right corner of the window.
  11. You can test your macro by clicking the Play button. Click Record again if you need to record the macro over.
  12. When you are satisfied with what you have recorded, click Save.

Notes

  • Recorded macros are dependent on various settings on your computer, such as screen resolution or the operating system. These macros can produce unexpected results if used on a different computer or if you change the settings on your current computer.
  • If a recorded macro does not work the way you anticipate during playback, try recording it again and adding a slight pause between each action. For example, sometimes it takes a second or two for the Start menu to open and the macro must anticipate this. In cases where there is a hot-key equivalent to a mouse action, you should consider using the hot key as a way to avoid this problem.
  • You can use the Macro Recorder Action dialog box to change an incorrect mouse pointer location as an alternative to rerecording a macro.
  • If you click the record button while you are in the middle of recording a macro, the recorder deletes all of the previously recorded sequence of keystrokes and mouse movements and begins recording a new sequence of actions.
  • If the actions of a recorded macro include secure information, such as credit card numbers or a part of a program protected by a password, that information will be visible to anyone who runs that macro. Please be aware of this and take care not to include private information in a recorded macro that might be used by unauthorized individuals.