| Everyday each one of us makes thousands of | | | | sort of password protection. Many new generation |
| keystrokes and mouse strokes, and repeating the | | | | macro recorders are sensitive to this. |
| same key and mouse strokes every hour on the | | | | So how does one choose a macro recorder? |
| hour. To save time and energy on doing these | | | | Some of the things to keep in mind are: |
| repeated tasks, Macro Recorders are used. | | | | 1. Accuracy of the recorder: The recorder should be |
| Before we go to Macro Recorders, the first question | | | | able to accurately replay the tasks keeping in |
| is - What is a Macro? | | | | consideration the changes in location of files and |
| A macro is a series of commands and instructions | | | | desktop area changes. |
| that allows you to perform repeated tasks in | | | | 2. Ease of use: I guess this is self explanatory. The |
| response to a single command or keystroke. In other | | | | recorder should be as easy as 1-2-3. The recorder |
| words, you can hit one letter and have the macro | | | | should be able to help you create tasks in minutes |
| execute a set of commands. | | | | without spending time figuring out how to record the |
| A Macro Recorder is a software that records these | | | | task. |
| commands and allows you to play them back at a | | | | 3. IE Plug-in: The recorder should have the ability to |
| later time. The main advantage of using a macro | | | | wait till web page loads, before it carries out tasks |
| recorder is that it allows you not only to play back | | | | like auto login, generate reports, etc. |
| routine tasks but also complex tasks. | | | | 4. Ability to run Macros faster: Sometimes when the |
| Most traditional macro recorders do not analyze or | | | | task recorded is big; the time taken to run the macro |
| understand what the user recorded. Which meant | | | | is also more. Some recorders have the ability to |
| that if there was any change in the user's recorded | | | | speed up the task. If you have big tasks you want |
| environment i.e. say the location of the file changed | | | | to run, keeping this criterion in mind would help in |
| or the user's desktop area changed, the recorder will | | | | choosing the right macro recorder. |
| not playback the macro correctly. | | | | 5. Ability to run macros that are file specific or global: |
| The new generation of macro recorders is intelligent; | | | | Sometimes, you might want to run a macro you |
| which means that even if the location of the file | | | | created on file A to run with file B. It is important to |
| changes or the desktop area changes, the playback | | | | check whether the recorder you selected handles |
| is flawless. Many macro recorders also allow you to | | | | this criterion. |
| edit your tasks and create them through their editors | | | | 6. Other features to keep in mind are: Ability to |
| rather than recording them directly. This makes the | | | | create .exe files (if you want to run the same task |
| software more flexible and more complex tasks can | | | | on multiple machines without installing the recorder on |
| be automated. A chain of tasks can also be created | | | | all machines); security features available; ability to |
| and automated. | | | | batch process and batch script. |
| More advanced macro recorders have a feature | | | | In conclusion, macro recorders are not only for |
| where you can create executables (".exe"). These | | | | advanced computer users, but also for any PC users |
| .exe files are standalone and can be conveniently and | | | | in general. For those at home, using a PC as a pass |
| independently run from any computer without | | | | time, a simple task like shutting down the PC at a |
| installation of the said macro recorder software. | | | | pre-defined time can be automated, saving electricity |
| A serious consideration is the security aspect. Many | | | | bills. So whatever your profession and whatever your |
| macro recorders save the recorded macro in a plain | | | | PC usage, there is a macro recorder out there to |
| text format with no security provision, making it | | | | meet your criteria. Just keep in mind your |
| easily accessible to anyone. What is required is some | | | | requirement and the tips for choosing the right one. |