Record and Playback Overview

While complex macros will likely be written outside of SmartCAM, there are a class of macros that can easily be created simply by running SmartCAM and recording the interactions with the application. Some of these recorded macros may need some additional editing, in a text editor, to make them generic enough for common usage; others will work perfectly right after being recorded.

Recording a Macro

To start recording a macro, use Macro - Record, from the SmartCAM main menu. Then, when the Macro Record dialog box is displayed, enter the full path and filename for the macro. Macros use an .MCL extension.

Now, press the Accept button. From this point, until you stop recording or exit the application, nearly anything you do in SmartCAM will be recorded in macro form.

When you are finished creating the macro, use Macro - Stop, from the SmartCAM main menu, to end the macro recording. The macro is automatically saved when recording is ended.

Playing back a Macro

To run a previously created macro select Macro - Execute from the SmartCAM main menu. When the Macro Execute dialog box is displayed, enter the full path and filename of the macro to run. For now, do not worry about the "Strict Mode", "Show Warnings", and "Check Macro" options.

Now, press the Accept button. The pre-recorded macro will playback, line by line, until it is finished.