Automation - Task Recorder - A Task Automation Tool For Everyone How to use automation on your computer and save yourself a lot of work and energy. Discover what Macro Recorders are and how to use them.

1. Automation - Macro Recorder – A Task
Automation Tool For Everyone
Everyday each one of us makes thousands of
keystrokes and mouse strokes, and repeating the
same key and mouse strokes every hour on the
hour. To save time and energy on doing these
repeated tasks, Macro Recorders are used.
Before we go to Macro Recorders, the first
question is – What is a Macro?

2. A macro is a series of commands and instructions
that allows you to perform repeated tasks in
response to a single command or keystroke. In
other words, you can hit one letter and have the
macro execute a set of commands.
A Macro Recorder is a software that records these
commands and allows you to play them back at a
later time. The main advantage of using a macro
recorder is that it allows you not only to play back
routine tasks but also complex tasks.
Most traditional macro recorders do not analyze or
understand what the user recorded. Which meant
that if there was any change in the user’s recorded
environment i.e. say the location of the file
changed or the user’s desktop area changed, the
recorder will not playback the macro correctly.
The new generation of macro recorders is
intelligent; which means that even if the location
of the file changes or the desktop area changes,
the playback is flawless. Many macro recorders
also allow you to edit your tasks and create them
through their editors rather than recording them

3. directly. This makes the software more flexible and
more complex tasks can be automated. A chain of
tasks can also be created and automated.
More advanced macro recorders have a feature
where you can create executables (“.exe”). These
.exe files are standalone and can be conveniently
and independently run from any computer without
installation of the said macro recorder software.
A serious consideration is the security aspect.
Many macro recorders save the recorded macro in
a plain text format with no security provision,
making it easily accessible to anyone. What is
required is some sort of password protection.
Many new generation macro recorders are
sensitive to this.
So how does one choose a macro recorder?
Some of the things to keep in mind are:

4. 1. Accuracy of the recorder: The recorder should
be able to accurately replay the tasks keeping in
consideration the changes in location of files and
desktop area changes.
2. Ease of use: I guess this is self explanatory. The
recorder should be as easy as 1-2-3. The recorder
should be able to help you create tasks in minutes
without spending time figuring out how to record
the task.
3. IE Plug-in: The recorder should have the ability
to wait till web page loads, before it carries out
tasks like auto login, generate reports, etc.
4. Ability to run Macros faster: Sometimes when
the task recorded is big; the time taken to run the
macro is also more. Some recorders have the
ability to speed up the task. If you have big tasks
you want to run, keeping this criterion in mind
would help in choosing the right macro recorder.
5. Ability to run macros that are file specific or
global: Sometimes, you might want to run a macro

5. you created on file A to run with file B. It is
important to check whether the recorder you
selected handles this criterion.
6. Other features to keep in mind are: Ability to
create .exe files (if you want to run the same task
on multiple machines without installing the
recorder on all machines); security features
available; ability to batch process and batch script.
In conclusion, macro recorders are not only for
advanced computer users, but also for any PC
users in general. For those at home, using a PC as
a pass time, a simple task like shutting down the
PC at a pre-defined time can be automated, saving
electricity bills. So whatever your profession and
whatever your PC usage, there is a macro recorder
out there to meet your criteria. Just keep in mind
your requirement and the tips for choosing the
right one.