CoStat's Macros

CoStat can auto-record your actions in simple macros, or you can program sophisticated macros with the macro programming language.

Macro Features -

• Macro : Play lets you specify how many times you want to play a macro.
• You can assign macros to buttons on the macro toolbar, which can be made to appear right below the regular toolbar.
• The Java-like syntax is easy for programmers familiar with C, C++, Java, Fortran, Basic, or Pascal to learn.
• The macro language is a real language. It supports variables with different data types, Java/C-style operators (+, -, *, /, |, ^, = =, =, +=, etc.) with standard operator precedence, control structures (if, else, do, do...while, for), functions (including lots of built-in functions), and comments.
• The built-in compiler gives useful error messages (in the unlikely event you will ever need them ;-) ).
• CoStat can play macros one command at a time in order to help you debug them.

Examples of Uses for Macros -

Assign frequently used processes to a button on the macro button bar.

Menus and dialog boxes are fine for normal program use. But if there are things that you do frequently, you can save a lot of time by recording a macro and assigning the macro to a button on the button bar. Then, a whole series of actions can be reduced to clicking a single button. This is a great way to customize the program.

In CoStat, store all the commands in a multi-part analysis.

For example, File : Load, Statistics : Descriptive, Statistics : Regression. You can then rerun the analysis with another data file. Or, write a macro to do a series of polynomial regressions (Degree=1, 2, 3, and 4).

In CoText, automate routine or unusual operations.

For example, search and replace are fine for single lines of text. But with a macro, the "Replace With" text can include multi-line blocks of text or other commands (Home, End, Left, Right, Up, Down, Enter).