Applescript as a replacement for Macros?

[joshuac]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I've seen it written that you can substitute Applescript for Macros when using Excel 2008. In Excel 2004, I used the macros to do a lot of repetitive keystroke work -- deleting columns, adding columns, typing in characters. moving things around, etc. I created the macros by having Excel record my keystrokes. Does Applescript have the ability to record your keystrokes and play them back? I'm not a programmer, so it has to be pretty easy to use. Any other suggestions on what to do in the absence of macros would be welcomed.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I've seen it written that you can substitute Applescript for Macros when using Excel 2008. In Excel 2004, I used the macros to do a lot of repetitive keystroke work -- deleting columns, adding columns, typing in characters. moving things around, etc. I created the macros by having Excel record my keystrokes. Does Applescript have the ability to record your keystrokes and play them back? I'm not a programmer, so it has to be pretty easy to use. Any other suggestions on what to do in the absence of macros would be welcomed.

Hi Josh,

AppleScript with Excel does not have recording capabilities.

The familiar recording and VBA capabilities are expected to return in
the next major release of Office.

-Jim

 

[Laroche J]

Jim Gordon MVP wrote on 2009-05-11 18:23:

Hi Josh,

AppleScript with Excel does not have recording capabilities.

The familiar recording and VBA capabilities are expected to return in
the next major release of Office.

-Jim

However, Script Editor (usually in Applications/AppleScript) does have
recording abilities. It works with Excel, at least it does with v.X.

JL
Mac OS X 10.4.11
Office v.X 10.1.9

 

[JE McGimpsey]

However, Script Editor (usually in Applications/AppleScript) does have
recording abilities. It works with Excel, at least it does with v.X.

XL08 doesn't talk to Script Editor's recorder (nor does XL04's).

One can record in v.X and modify it for XL08 - but it's not exactly a
trivial job. Both the AppleScript syntax and XL's object model underwent
significant revisions for XL08, so thing that work in XLv.X and XL04
don't work at all in XL08.

On the plus side, an enormous number of things that didn't work in XLv.X
and XL04 now *do* work with XL08 AppleScript. One still needs to be
creative, however.

 

[Neverhood]

Maybe you need to use a keylogger? For instance, ProteMac Keybag can store your keystrokes and recover them weeks later. Maybe this tip will be helpful to you