On 15.03.2010, at 12:15, Kino wrote:

> On Mar 15, 2010, at 5:01 AM, Þorvarður Davíðsson wrote:
>
>> How can I save a document on the desktop with a macro using a text  
>> selection from the document?
>>
>> In Nisus Classic I used this:
>> Copy
>> Save
>> Paste
>> Enter [this would simulate the Enter or the Return key, I have  
>> forgotten how this macro command exactly looked like in Nisus  
>> Classic]
>

> "Paste" and "Send Text" do not work for Save As dialog box. A bug  
> or some limitation of the dialog box?

Yes, that's a pity because it worked beautifully in Nisus Classic.


> Anyway, I think the following will do the job. (…)

Thanks Kino, I'll try this.


>
> Attention: the macro overwrite a file of the same name in the same  
> location without warning.

So I guess there is no way to include a warning in the macro?


>
>> Today I wanted to test the following lines:
>>
>> $path = '/Users/meinewenigkeit/Desktop
>> $name = Read Selection
>> $name = $name &= ‘.rtf’
>> Save to $path, $name
>>
>> I actually intended to close the path with an apostrophe (') after  
>> the word "Desktop" , but it seems I forgot it.
>
> You forgot also a slash / after "Desktop". And the syntax of "Save  
> To" command is wrong. See the reference.


I knew that something was wrong. I'm learning this (for me) new macro  
language slowly, slowly. But I must say – all in all – it is easier  
to learn and more powerful than the old macro language. Unfortunately  
the Nisus Macro Reference file does not contain enough examples to  
help the novice and illustrate how to use the commands. It's mostly  
pure grammar, which can be very frustrating for the beginner.


>
>> The result was that the files and folders I had on the Desktop  
>> suddenly all disappeared and the Desktop folder itself is now a  
>> Nisus document
>
> I don't know what happened.

I had two documents open, A and B. The macro commands were in A and I  
was trying to save document B using the command "Run Selection As  
Macro" from the Macro menu. Nisus saved document B with the title  
"Desktop" and placed it where the old Desktop folder was, thus  
replacing the original Desktop folder. Since the Desktop folder was  
replaced (or deleted) all the files and subfolders in it were deleted  
too. "This is what happens when you don't know what you are doing", I  
told myself.  But considering the fact that this was a major  
catastrophe for me I would say that this should not have been able to  
happen. I sent a report to Manfred and asked him: "Would it be  
possible to write a code in NWP that would somehow protect the  
Desktop folder from being accidentally replaced, removed or deleted  
with a macro? I guess NWP is also able to play havoc with other  
important folders as well (the Home folder, the Library …), perhaps  
they should be protected from accidentally being replaced and turned  
into a Nisus document too." Perhaps the Home folder is protected by  
the System software, but I am not going to test it, I have had enough  
experiments today.

> But, before running a new macro, you should do some testing,

I always try to do that, but today the path was charged with too much  
energy so that in the end the whole macro laboratory exploded with a  
blast!   :-)


Þorvarður