Saving single INTEGER externally?

[zeak]

Is there a way to save single INTEGERs externally either to a INPUT.mmmacro just used as a data file to then have certain INTEGERs be pulled back to the main macro when required?

Example of how I think it works:

1 | RUN ACTION | OUTPUT TO FILE | D:\Macro\RX\INPUT.mmmacro::OVERWRITE::%INTEGER1%::%INTEGER4%
The line above if I can understand it correctly creates an INPUT.mmmacro file at the file path D:\Macro\RX\INPUT.mmmacro with the declared INTEGER1 overwritten with the information with INTEGER4 in the current macro for use with the INPUT FROM FILE action.

[Steve]

A good way to get data into variables during run time is to use INPUT FROM FILE (www.turnssoft.com/conditions.html#inputfromfile).

1 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | VARIABLES::REFRESH::D:\Macro\RX\VARS.txt
Declared usually at the beginning of the macro, the INPUT FROM FILE condition above will monitor the VARS.txt for changes. Any changes that are made to the file will be added into the corresponding variables.

For this to work, VARS.txt must be formatted correctly:

VARS.txt
INTEGER::10
INTEGER1::20
INTEGER2::30
INTEGER3::40
INTEGER4::50
STRING::Ant
STRING1::Bee
STRING2::Cat
STRING3::Dog
STRING4::%CLIPBOARD%

If you do not intent to monitor all variables for changes then a single variable can be declared. Like we did here:

Nov 27, 2018 3:56:42 GMT Steve said:

getres.mmmacro can assign the resolution to variables. I think this is what you are after.

getres.mmmacro uses 'wmic' to pull the screenwidth and screenheight values into a file that is read in by MMM to assign the variables.

main.mmmacro
1 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | %INTEGER%::0
2 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | %INTEGER1%::0
3 | FOR | EACH | LINE IN | D:\Macro\getres.mmmacro | RUN
4 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | Screen Res is %integer1%x%integer%::::0
getres.mmmacro
1 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | INTEGER1::REFRESH::D:\Macro\inX.txt
2 | RUN ACTION | RUN VIA CMD /c | for /f "tokens=1,2 delims== skip=2" %i in ('wmic desktopmonitor get screenwidth /value') do (IF NOT "%j"=="" <NUL set /p out=%j>D:\MACRO\inX.txt)
3 | RUN ACTION | WAIT SECONDS | 2
4 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | INTEGER::REFRESH::D:\Macro\inY.txt
5 | RUN ACTION | RUN VIA CMD /c | for /f "tokens=1,2 delims== skip=2" %i in ('wmic desktopmonitor get screenheight /value') do (IF NOT "%j"=="" <NUL set /p out=%j>D:\MACRO\inY.txt)
6 | RUN ACTION | WAIT SECONDS | 2

OUTPUT TO FILE can be used to populate a single entry. Something like this:
1 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | INTEGER::REFRESH::D:\Macro\RX\INTEGER.txt
2 | RUN ACTION | OUTPUT TO FILE | D:\Macro\RX\INTEGER.txt::OVERWRITE::%INTEGER%

www.turnssoft.com/conditions.html#inputfromfile
www.turnssoft.com/conditions.html#outputtofile

[zeak]

Nov 28, 2018 4:06:18 GMT Steve said:

1 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | INTEGER::REFRESH::D:\Macro\RX\INTEGER.txt
2 | RUN ACTION | OUTPUT TO FILE | D:\Macro\RX\INTEGER.txt::OVERWRITE::%INTEGER%


So if I was to do this I would require a different text file for each INTEGER that I wanted recorded.

Is there a way to pull a particular INTEGER from a text file that has multiple INTEGERs in it like your previous example below.

VARS.txt
INTEGER::10
INTEGER1::20
INTEGER2::30
INTEGER3::40
INTEGER4::50
STRING::Ant
STRING1::Bee
STRING2::Cat
STRING3::Dog
STRING4::%CLIPBOARD%
Lets say I only wanted to update "STRING1::Bee" from this file, would that be possible? I'm just hoping to get away from having half a dozen text files required with my macro.

[Steve]

Yeah if you only wanted to update STRING1=Bee then within VARS.txt you would change the value of STRING1 within the file.

1 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | VARIABLES::REFRESH:D:\Macro\RX\VARS.txt
2 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | Value of STRING1 = %STRING1%::Value Before ::0
* | Make the change to the value within VARS.txt now and save the file.
3 | RUN ACTION | WAIT SECONDS | 5
4 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | Value of STRING1 = %STRING1%::Value After ::0
VARS.txt
INTEGER::10
INTEGER1::20
INTEGER2::30
INTEGER3::40
INTEGER4::50
STRING::Ant
STRING1::Frog
STRING2::Cat
STRING3::Dog
STRING4::%CLIPBOARD%

[zeak]

Can I update the value STRING1 from Bee to Frog without having to open the text file. can I use a macro to do so?

1 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | VARIABLES::REFRESH:D:\Macro\RX\VARS.txt
2 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | Value of STRING1 = %STRING1%::Value Before ::0
3 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | %STRING1%::Frog
4 | RUN ACTION | OUTPUT TO FILE | D:\Macro\RX\VARS.txt::STRING1::%string1%
5 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | %STRING1%::Bee
* | This is just to change the variable on MMM to be different then Frog to see if the change works.
6 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | STRING1::REFRESH:D:\Macro\RX\VARS.txt
7 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | Value of STRING1 = %STRING1%::Value After ::0

The Idea is if you could use a STRING or INTEGER was well as OVERWRITE or APPEND while performing the OUT TO FILE action.
Sorry if you have trouble understanding what I am thinking as I have trouble communicating my thoughts.

[Steve]

1 | RUN ACTION | OUTPUT TO FILE | D:\Macro\RX\VARS.txt::OVERWRITE::%VARIABLES%
The line above will output the value of all current variables to the file VARS.txt with the correct formatting.
Does this help?

[zeak]

Nov 29, 2018 5:03:00 GMT Steve said:

1 | RUN ACTION | OUTPUT TO FILE | D:\Macro\RX\VARS.txt::OVERWRITE::%VARIABLES%
The line above will output the value of all current variables to the file VARS.txt with the correct formatting.
Does this help?

the issue with that is I don't wish to change the other variables, just a single one.

[Steve]

VARS.txt could have a single entry. Something like:
STRING1::Frog

With 1 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | VARIABLES::REFRESH:D:\Macro\RX\VARS.txt
any changes to VARS.txt during the running macro will refresh the variable value that it is assigned to.

[cyberchipz]

I have tried to use INPUT FROM FILE this and it isn't working for me.  Line 16 should import the variables into the macro... the file has changed and STRING1 says TESTING WORKS
I am using 8.3.3.0 - have not tested in previous versions... just needed it now.
The error created just repeats the code in line 16, (NO REASON OR ANYTHING) same happens for trying to save a changed variable and overwrite it with OUTPUT TO FILE (Not shown)
Bottom line; code is not IMPORTING or EXPORTING variable values to the file. (Lines 20-22 work)

1 | RUN ACTION | DEBUG | BACKGROUND COLOR::Black
2 | RUN ACTION | WAIT SECONDS | 1
3 | RUN ACTION | DEBUG | FOREGROUND COLOR::White
* | Want to keep the previous Variables from another macro IOW don't want to lose them, so for testing assigning manually
* | and I already tested this without the variables being assigned, and testing adding VARS to see if that caused it to fail
4 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING::ERRHANDLER
* | Defined this next variable top TESTING.. file says TESTING WORKS
5 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING1::TESTING
6 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING2::DebugClickCheck
7 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING3::StopIt Normal is FALSE AUTO is TRUE SKIPPED is %SKIPPEDFLAG%
8 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING4::NotTesting
9 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | INTEGER::0
10 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | INTEGER1::1298
11 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | INTEGER2::778
12 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | INTEGER3::0
13 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | INTEGER4::2


* | This should be code to read in the changed variables (file content is listed below
14 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | String1 is %STRING1%::TESTING INPUT FROM TEXT LOCATION::0::OK
15 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | VARIABLES::REFRESH:C:HWFLAGS\VARS.txt
16 | RUN ACTION | WAIT SECONDS | 5
17 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | String1 is %STRING1%'\n'THIS SHOULD BE - TEST WORKS::TESTING INPUT FROM TEXT LOCATION::0::OK


18 | RUN ACTION | STOP
* | So I initially run each line here manually to set the variables first.
* | In reality Vars already exist because I retain Variable Values macro to macro
* | Change this line for testing purposes
19 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING1::TESTING WORKS
20 | RUN ACTION | OUTPUT TO FILE | C:\HWFLAGS\VARS.txt::OVERWRITE::%VARIABLES%
21 | RUN ACTION | STOP

Pretty sure I didn't need line 16 but added anyway... just because.
Lines 11 and 12 works... and creates the file with all the variables Below

STRING::ERRHANDLER

STRING1::TEST WORKS

STRING2::DebugClickCheck

STRING3::StopIt Normal is FALSE AUTO is TRUE SKIPPED is %SKIPPEDFLAG%

STRING4::NotTesting

INTEGER::0

INTEGER1::1298

INTEGER2::778

INTEGER3::0

INTEGER4::2

[Steve]

Hi cyberchipz

I can't see where you could be going wrong. It looks ok to me. Is the MMM internal event log giving you any feedback that might help?

Have a look at this example based off your STRING and INTEGER variable.  You should be able to replicate this by pasting the code into MMM:

* | #############################
* | Clear all vars
* | #############################
  1 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | FARM::Chicken
  2 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE BOOLEAN VARIABLE | STATUS::FALSE
  3 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | COUNT::0
  4 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING::NUL
  5 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING1::NUL
  6 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING2::NUL
  7 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING3::NUL
  8 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE STRING VARIABLE | STRING4::NUL
  9 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | INTEGER::0
  10 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | INTEGER1::0
  11 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | INTEGER2::0
  12 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | INTEGER3::0
  13 | RUN ACTION | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | INTEGER4::0
* | #############################
* | Output all vars prior to input from file
* | #############################
  14 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | %STRING%'\n'%STRING1%'\n'%STRING2%'\n'%STRING3%'\n'%STRING4%'\n'%INTEGER%'\n'%INTEGER1%'\n'%INTEGER2%'\n'%INTEGER3%'\n'%INTEGER4%'\n'
  15 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | %FARM%'\n'%STATUS%'\n'%COUNT%::Farm - Status - Count
* | #############################
* | input from file from input1.txt
* | #############################
  16 | RUN ACTION | INPUT FROM FILE | VARIABLES::NO_REFRESH::D:\Dropbox\Macro\File\input1.txt
* | #############################
* | output all vars post input from file
* | #############################
  17 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | %STRING%'\n'%STRING1%'\n'%STRING2%'\n'%STRING3%'\n'%STRING4%'\n'%INTEGER%'\n'%INTEGER1%'\n'%INTEGER2%'\n'%INTEGER3%'\n'%INTEGER4%::Strings and Integers
  18 | RUN ACTION | MESSAGE PROMPT | %FARM%'\n'%STATUS%'\n'%COUNT%::Farm - Status - Count
input1.txt
FARM::Goat
STATUS::False
COUNT::2
STRING::ERRHANDLER
STRING1::TEST WORKS
STRING2::DebugClickCheck
STRING3::StopIt Normal is FALSE AUTO is TRUE SKIPPED is %SKIPPEDFLAG%
STRING4::NotTestingNo
INTEGER::1
INTEGER1::1298000
INTEGER2::77800000
INTEGER3::10000000
INTEGER4::200000

[cyberchipz]

OH MY! I feel like such a doof... shaking my head.... line 15 of my code is missing a colon... and backslash after C:  (sigh).... 
I'm just going to fall back on... my hand injury has me having to pay so much attention to my typing... that when I edited the path, I botched it up and didn't see it.

Thank you so much... I'll just say that having code I know works to go from.... sure makes a big difference in my expectations...  Naturally, I had to change the path in your code; but, I didn't mess up this time when I changed it.  I was going to write... saving the whole file and input that would have been a good enough workaround... I'd have used it; but, everything is working now... and
I appreciate this so much... thanks for bearing with me.  typo's ... a coder's worst enemy. (sigh).

Thanks again Steve...
All of my previous and new, from you, code is all working now! :-)

PS: For what it is worth; the MMM internal event log only repeated the line with the error; but with the missing colon, and missing backslash... it had nothing to say about the line... it did not pick up on the syntax error; but, then I don't expect it would.

ibb.co/sCCnGkJ  image of error log.