How to put macros on PC

Tell me the truth, you’re sick of typing the usual keyboard and mouse buttons over and over to execute that well-defined command, to be repeated over and over again and again. I understand you: whether you are an employee, a gamer or any other type of user who uses the PC daily, the repetition of some commands throughout the day is a common factor, which in the long run can tire and slow down your work considerably.

That’s why you are looking for a way to automate the operations in question and, by doing research on the Net, you became aware of macros: automatisms capable of issuing a specific command by simply clicking or pressing a simple sequence of keys on the keyboard. Well, you’ve hit the spot! Macros can help you save a lot of time and a lot of effort, as they can perform numerous actions such as a combination of keys or scripts, in one quick automation.

If you want, therefore, I can explain you a little more closely how to put macros on a PC through a series of software that does not require great technical skills to be used. So, take a few minutes of free time, take a look at this tutorial of mine and try to put into practice the instructions it contains. I guarantee you that it is nothing complicated and that, at the end of the reading, you will have clearer ideas on the basics of macros, to be able to create and modify them in total autonomy. Happy reading and good work!

Index

• What are macros
• How to activate macros on PC
  • Pulover
  • Other solutions to activate macros on PC
• How to enable macros on Mac
  • Keyboard Maestro
  • Other solutions to enable macros on Mac

What are macros

Before starting with the actual guide, I would really like to give you some basic notions on macros for PC, in order to answer all the doubts that have led you this far.

To begin with, I’d like to answer the big question: what are macros? Well, macros are real automation of key presses, cursor movement, mouse clicks, software processes and script execution, which normally need to be manually given with a whole series of repetitive actions but which thanks to this solution is they can impart by simply pressing one or more keys.

A practical example in the professional field could be the cycle of copying the contents of an Excel cell to paste it in an underlying cell, with the relative addition of a mathematical operation.

Translated to a practical level, you should issue the Copy command (Ctrl + C) in the cell to be copied, then you should move the mouse cursor to the destination cell, select it and type Ctrl + V, to paste the content. Then you should edit the cell by double-clicking and apply the math operation by hand, such as adding a percentage or applying a subtraction. How many key-ins have you done, then, to produce a single operation? So many.

A macro is able to do all this, and achieve the same result, in a short time and with the press of a single key or a single key combination. It can be used both in the professional and in the videogame field: there is no precise destination of use. To find out more, read on.

How to activate macros on PC

After understanding what a macro is and how it can be used to optimize daily routines on a PC, I’ll explain in a simple and effective way how to activate macros on a PC. To achieve this, it will be necessary to install special software, capable of recording several repeated operations and creating an automation capable of executing them all by issuing a single command.

Pulover

Pulover is a very light and completely free software developed specifically for recording and executing macros, without limits or restrictions, on Windows operating systems. In this chapter I will explain how to download and use it so at the end you will be able to indulge yourself and create all the macros you need.

First, you need to download Pulover’s Macro Creator by connecting to the respective official website and clicking on the Download item located above the Current Version heading (in order to download the latest version of the software). Once the download is complete, double-click the file obtained, MacroCreator-setup.exe, and follow the on-screen instructions to install it. You must always click on Next, check the box to accept the terms of use, and finally click on the button to finish the installation. You will not be offered advertisements or alternative software downloads.

After installation, you can double-click on the new shortcut of Pulover’s Macro Creator located on the desktop, then go to the File> New menu located at the top left. You will notice two columns: on the left all the actions you performed to record the new macro will be shown, while on the right you will have a preview of the script that is below everything.

To start recording your series of actions, click on the record icon (the red circle) located at the top left, you will see a small toolbar appear and minimize the interface in the background. Now press the F9 key to start recording a series of actions: to give you an example, I am on an Excel sheet and I have already selected a cell, so I press Ctrl + C to execute the copy command, then I press the Down Arrow key on the keyboard to move to the cell below and at the end I issue the command Ctrl + C to paste the contents of the previous cell.

You can issue any type of command, including mouse movements and clicks, typing text, and running a script.

When you are done mimicking your series of actions, press the F9 key again to stop recording. To test it, all you have to do is press the F3 key to start the macro and F8 to stop it.

You can change the macro launch keys and put the ones you prefer, to do so go to the user interface and click on the Hotkey item located at the bottom left. In the window that opens, you can type the key or combination of keys you want to use to start the macro. You can also decide how many times to repeat the macro using the loop option. If you set 0 in the loop field your macro will run repeatedly without ever stopping.

If you want to speed up the processes of the macro to increase the performance of the execution you can double-click on the Pause items in the left column. You will notice that there are many, this is because the pauses are precisely the time elapsed between one command and another during the recording phase, you can modify them up to reduce them to 1 millisecond.

Well done, you have now learned how to create your first macro. You can customize the recordable actions by clicking on the triangle next to the record command, a drop-down menu will open where you can check anything you want to make recordable, such as the movement of the mouse between the X and Y axes or the acquisition of the pressure and release of a key on the keyboard as two separate actions.

You can run macros as long as the software is open in the background. If you want to use the keys you have assigned to the hotkeys, to perform their native function, just close the application.

Other solutions to activate macros on PC

Pulover is not the only software for creating macros, indeed, there are really many, but to make your search easier, I list below some of those that I think are the simplest and most popular.

For example, if you have a gaming mouse or a gaming keyboard, they will most likely be accompanied by very attractive and feature-rich management software for key customization. Usually there is also a macro configurator for mouse and keyboard, I suggest you look in the software settings, if you are looking to automate the mouse for gaming, I leave you here my guide on how to put macros on the mouse.

There are, then, other “generic” software to create and run macros that I highly recommend you try. Here are some of the most interesting.

• AutoHotKey– is a very interesting free open-source tool, which allows you to create one or more macros using very simple syntax scripts. Unlike Pulover it does not have a friedly user interface but allows you to issue any series of commands possible in windows.
• Macro Toolworks– is a complete free software with a very simple and intuitive user interface. It allows you free management and creation of macros and is also available in a paid professional version that allows the execution of 300 consecutive commands in a single macro.
• Do It Again– is a small and very light no-frills tool, completely free that allows you to record and run a macro in a very short time, the only limitation is that it does not allow you to customize macros with additions of manual commands or substantial changes to the recorded actions.
• Macro Maker– is a complete program that allows you to create a PC macro in a clear and understandable way. It allows you to manually add commands or actions where you forgot to execute them during registration. The program in question is paid (with prices starting at $ 39) but offers a 40-day free trial.

How to enable macros on Mac

If you are a computer user of the “bitten apple” and, therefore, are trying to understand how to activate macros on Mac, then this is the chapter of the guide that is right for you. Below you will find all the instructions to record and run a macro on Mac in a few simple steps.

Keyboard Maestro

The most complete and easiest software to create and run macros on Mac is called Keyboard Maestro. To understand if this tool is right for you, I will explain how to download and install the free trial version, in order to test it and see if it can be the program you were looking for. In that case, you can purchase it for $ 36.

First, go to the Keyboard Maestro website and click on the Free Trial button. When the download is complete, double click on the downloaded .dmg file and drag the Keyboard Maestro icon to your Mac’s Applications folder to install it.

At this point, start the program and grant it all the required permissions by opening System Preferences and following the instructions on the screen. Then, to create a macro, first of all press the (+) button located at the bottom of the KM user interface, then in the right column you can assign a name to your new macro.

Just below, you can choose how to activate your new macro, to try it out I suggest you choose the Hot Key Trigger item and type in the This Hot Key field a key or a combination of keyboard keys as you like to trigger the macro.

Now, in the lower part of the column, click in the gray dotted area with No Action written inside, in order to choose from the contextual drop-down menu which action to give. Then add a second action by clicking the + New Action button below and continue like this until you have established all the actions of your macro.

The macro is immediately usable, you don’t have to save or export anything, so to try it all you have to do is type the key or combination of keys you have assigned in the This Hot Key field just above. You can really insert many actions in your macro, starting from simple keystrokes on the keyboard to real executions of scripts, variables or applications on your Mac.

If you prefer to record a series of actions by performing various mouse and keyboard operations, press the Record button at the bottom of the user interface, then proceed with the simulation of your macro. You can always manually edit your simulation by pressing the Edit button to the left of the Record button.

To delete a macro, all you have to do is select it from the central column and click on the (-) button located at the bottom of the interface.

This is just a very quick “smattering” of what Keyboard Maestro is able to do, since we are talking about a really powerful program. It supports triggers (i.e. activation systems) among the most disparate: not only key combinations, but also insertion of USB devices, schedules, opening of applications, connection to certain Wi-Fi networks; can restrict macro execution to certain software only; it can run forward scripts, manage windows on the desktop, and much more. Take a look at the official documentation and you will be amazed by its potential!

Other solutions to enable macros on Mac

If the aforementioned solution is not for you, then I gladly suggest some alternative Mac applications. Let’s see below other solutions to activate macros on Mac.

• Automator– this is the native and free Automator application, capable of automating actions, running custom scripts and launching macOS software or commands.
• Macro Recorder– is a tool to create and execute macros, light and powerful with a really intuitive user interface, it is completely free and allows you to automate mouse, keyboard commands and some basic macOS functions, such as running a application, select a window etc.
• Macro Recorder for Mac– if you want a quick and easy macro creator limited to mouse and keyboard recording, this is the tool for you. Mouse & Keyboard Recorder is a very light and free program equipped with a few but essential buttons without further frills.