Writing Macros

[Forte]

Is there any way to write macros outside of FFXI without using something like Windower? I don't want to add more lines, I just want to write in an easier way.

Thanks.

[Ghost_Wheel22]

Next best thing would be something like a G-series keyboard or an actual macro program.

[revelat10n]

POLUtils has a function to edit macros. Do a search for Pebbles POLUtils.

[Forte]

I don't mean a separate program. I mean I want to edit the actual FFXI macros. I'm doing it in game now but frankly, SE sucks at writing user friendly APIs...

[Gosyac]

I'm assuming by windower you mean windower scripts, not that you don't use windower. So,are you looking for something maybe like Macro Master? It's a seperate, simple, program with the macros saved to a .txt file for easy editing.

[Forte]

I'm assuming by windower you mean windower scripts, not that you don't use windower. So,are you looking for something maybe like Macro Master? It's a seperate, simple, program with the macros saved to a .txt file for easy editing.

No, I actually don't use windower. Well, that is to say, the only 'windower' I use is the official SE one.

[revelat10n]

I don't mean a separate program. I mean I want to edit the actual FFXI macros. I'm doing it in game now but frankly, SE sucks at writing user friendly APIs...

POLUtils will do this.

[Phlow]

Missing the point. I don't think he wants to download any 3rd party app. He wants to go into his SE folder, open a text file, and adjust any stored macro there.

Short answer: No. It's buried within the SE files somewhere.

Long answer: Yes, with about 4 years of computer science teaching or equivalent experience and a solid foundation on computer programing languages. That's why people write programs for these types of things.

[Deimos]

Basically the answer is "yeah, you can do it without a third party program - if you write your own third party program". You can edit the macro files, but it's not any friendlier than doing it in-game. Doing things like auto-translate is practically impossible.

[Mojo]

Just use Windower and get over it already.

[stewie]

Just use Windower and get over it already.

^ QuickMac will even right them for you! Barring last updates gear.

[Forte]

Missing the point. I don't think he wants to download any 3rd party app. He wants to go into his SE folder, open a text file, and adjust any stored macro there.

Short answer: No. It's buried within the SE files somewhere.

Long answer: Yes, with about 4 years of computer science teaching or equivalent experience and a solid foundation on computer programing languages. That's why people write programs for these types of things.

I didn't want to do it with windower. I do have the programing knowledge to do it, but I'll just use POLUtils. Thanks.

Just use Windower and get over it already.

No thank you. I have no desire to use such a thing.

[Wrish]

All your macros are stored locally in your USER folder under the character's identification number, which is a hexadecimal representation of a number typically in the tens of millions (less if you made your character long ago).

The macro files are named mcr.dat, mcr1.dat, mcr2.dat, and so forth. One file maps to an individual 20-macro page. The macro lines are spaced 61 bytes apart, with a 27-byte header. At best, you could make some rudimentary macros for your character and find the page you want with a hex editor, then proceed to edit the macros in overwrite mode.

Since Windows does not come with a raw hex editing program, you'd still be using a 3rd party utility. As long as POLutils does not start with FFXI, you're as good using that as using any other hex-editing program.

[tonystigma]

No thank you. I have no desire to use such a thing.

You're intelligent and I can completely understand how writing macros would be difficult for you.

[StevenW]

*thinks*

SE: Stephano, we know you use Windower. Cease and desist or we'll take away your internets.
Stephano: *kills self*

[ZhiGaruda]

I didn't want to do it with windower. I do have the programing knowledge to do it, but I'll just use POLUtils. Thanks.



No thank you. I have no desire to use such a thing.

Programming knowledge = inability to make macros in game? What?

Avoid Windower like the plague! It's the devil!

[Cymmina]

Programming knowledge = inability to make macros in game? What?

Actually, I can see the desire to use FFXI macros over Windower scripts because of behavior like this:

/p {Gather Together} {Protectra} {Shellra}
/target <st>
/ma "Protectra IV" <me>
/wait 8
/ma "Shellra V" <me>

The target line essentially puts a pause in there so you can wait as long as you'd like for your party to wake up and come close enough (or not wait at all if it's just you). You could probably do it with Windower, too, but it would be a lot more complex to write.

I personally use Yekyaa's macro editor (FFXI ME). While I don't particularly care for some of the behavior/UI, I preferred it to POLUtils. His site appears to be broke at the moment (<3 PHP):

http://ffxime.faservers.net/

[ZhiGaruda]

Actually, I can see the desire to use FFXI macros over Windower scripts because of behavior like this:

/p {Gather Together} {Protectra} {Shellra}
/target <st>
/ma "Protectra IV" <me>
/wait 8
/ma "Shellra V" <me>

The target line essentially puts a pause in there so you can wait as long as you'd like for your party to wake up and come close enough (or not wait at all if it's just you). You could probably do it with Windower, too, but it would be a lot more complex to write.

I personally use Yekyaa's macro editor (FFXI ME). While I don't particularly care for some of the behavior/UI, I preferred it to POLUtils. His site appears to be broke at the moment (<3 PHP):

http://ffxime.faservers.net/

Anything you can do with FFXI macros in game, you can do with windower, and have them easy to change/modify/use on seperate accounts without havnig to re-write macros etc.

[Cymmina]

Anything you can do with FFXI macros in game, you can do with windower, and have them easy to change/modify/use on seperate accounts without havnig to re-write macros etc.

I would very much like to see my sample macro duplicated with Windower. I'll give you a hint, it isn't this:

input /p {Gather Together} {Protectra} {Shellra};
input /target <st>;
input /ma "Protectra IV" <me>;
wait 8;
input /ma "Shellra V" <me>;

It looks the same, but it isn't. Windower scripts don't wait for something like /target <st>, it just continues executing the script while the target cursor is up. FFXI will wait as long as I'd like before executing the next line.

Windower scripts also can't be interrupted by executing another macro like FFXI macros can, which may or may not be desirable, depending on what you happen to need at the time (maybe I want to cast Haste instead of Shellra V and don't want to have to interrupt the spell or whatever).

Not trying to say Windower scripts are wrong/evil, they just just can't do everything.

Yekyaa's editor lets me easily edit/copy/paste/rearrange individual macros, sets, or even entire books of macros for multiple accounts. So that point is moot.

[StevenW]

I just use windower scripts for gear macros, really that's the only thing I find them good for... macros with more than 6 lines