The Macros Manager is used for setting up your macros. Macros are blocks of standard, repetitive text that are used in QSO's.The idea is to define standard QSO text that then becomes available to be dropped into your transmission with a single mouse click. They save repetitive typing.
There are a number of buttons and similar menu selections to help you with creating or editing your macros.
New - When defining a macro, there are two types of tags that you can add:[1] Fixed tags:[date], [time], [imd], [stop], [program], [cw-id-on] and [cw-id-off].
Example: "It is now [date] and [time]"
Example: "Software is [program]"
Example: "IMD reading is [imd]"
Example: "Bye-bye sk[stop]"
[cw-id-on] and [cw-id-off] control sending a CW identification after the text is sent.
[2] Normal tags which you define yourself, for example:
<callsign>
<name>
<rst>
<weather>
Example: "<callsign> <callsign> de HB9DRV HB9DRV k"
Example: "Thank-you <name>, your RST is <rst>"
Options:
Always prompt for tag: - when a macro is selected a popup window appears where you enter the values for the tags defined in the macro.
Erase Tx window: - before the macro is added all text in the TX window is erased.
Send immediately: - the macro is sent immediately, if not in Tx mode then the program is switched to Tx mode.
Always prompt for tag: - when a macro is selected a popup window appears where you enter the values for the tags defined in the macro.
Erase Tx window: - before the macro is added all text in the TX window is erased.
Send immediately: - the macro is sent immediately, if not in Tx mode then the program is switched to Tx mode.
Notes:
** Tag names are case-sensitive.
** With PSK31, lowercase characters are sent quicker than uppercase characters.
** Tag names are case-sensitive.
** With PSK31, lowercase characters are sent quicker than uppercase characters.
Defining a New Macro - As stated above, the idea is to define standard QSO text that then becomes available to be dropped into your transmission with a single mouse click. Simplified, you enter standard text, combined with selectable tags in the macro definition window. See the Tags Manager section for an explanation of how to create your own tags. The explanation here will use tags that have already been defined (provided with the program and unmodified except for the value contained) and are available for use.
Click on New to open the new tag definition window shown above.
Full Title: - Enter a unique, descriptive title for the macro. Check Enable if you wish the macro to be available to the program.
Short Title: - Enter text for short title to a maximum of 15 characters. This is an abbreviated title but still should be reasonably descriptive.
Definition: - Here is where you enter the text and the required tags. Let's say you wanted the macro contents to indicate the rig we are using, the antenna and the program.
Example: Enter "I am using an ", double click on <My Rig> in the Custom Tags list, enter "with ", double click on [program] in the Fixed Tags list, enter "into a " and then double click on <My Antenna> in the Custom Tags list. Finally, enter "." to complete the sentence and click the OK button to return to Macros Manager. Click on the Save button to save the macro.
When the macro is used, the values previously stored in the Custom and Fixed Tags that were used in the macro will be automatically placed in the text for transmission.