What is needed to run the macros?
At present, you must be running Mac OS X 10.3, and have a copy of QuicKeys X3 (a commercial macro environment). NOT QUITE TRUE: recently added macros for keyboard and mouse recorder-although this FAQ is only for QuicKeys...
Why OS X 10.3 and QK X3?
Previous versions of QuicKeys did not support timings more precise than one second. Since some of the macros (e.g. oscillating charcoal bonfires) we are developing require more precise timings, the macros are being developed in X3.
Why are Mac Macros so Difficult?
Microsoft Windows (tm recognized, as appropriate) allows users to create macros that operate at the level of the Operating System. This gives Windows user (with some add-on programs) the ability to manipulate elements of the Graphical User Interface at the System level.
Macintosh, on the other hand, has a built-in script capability, AppleScript (again, tm recognized). Unfortunately, Apple relies on application developers to give their users access to the various elements in the program. This leaves users at the mercy of the developers.
The code for ATitD was originally developed with the Windows platform in mind. Pluribus, one of the developers, used a GUI-builder program called Fast Light Tool Kit (FLTK) to port the code to the Mac and Linux platforms ... a considerable undertaking. It is thanks to his efforts that those of us who use the Mac can enjoy this game. Unfortunately, FLTK does NOT support AppleScript to any significant extent. This means that the easiest way to develop macros for the Mac is unavailable.
To make things even more difficult, Mac OS X represented a fundamental change in software architecture from previous releases of the Mac OS. The really good macro development programs (like Tempo) for the Mac no longer work ... or even exist as far as I can tell. QuicKeys (from CE Software) was never intended as a robust macro development platform. It was meant to allow users to "program" certain keyboard combinations to do very simple tasks at the system level. We are stretching it to (and beyond) its limits with these macros.
What is the Big Issue?
Our main problem is that so far, only QuicKeys has been able to give us a programmed mouse click that the FLTK/ATitD program combination will recognize. We can move the mouse freely with AppleScript (actuall, the XTool extensions), but clicking that way does nothing. We have also tried using AppleScript to position the mouse and just use QK to click, but that doesn;t work either. If anyone has experience with a program that can send ATitD a mouse click, please /chat Mer-GanGetham and let's talk about it.
Parent page: Macintosh Macros
Comments: Is the comment about applescript not working take into account this thread? http://atitd.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7199&page=2&pp=10