Can MMM accept a keypress during run time to exit a loop?

[Johnc]

Hi Steve,

Need a way to exit an infinite loop with a keypress.

Explored the "KEYBOARD PRESS" conditional command:


IF | KEYBOARD KEYPRESS | Keypress \ | IS | CONTINUE



but I need something different such that the MMM script cannot wait
indefinitely for a keystroke. It has to continue the loop if the predetermined key is not pressed
within 10 seconds for example.

i.e.

1 do work1
2 do work2
3 do work3
4 If there is no keypress "\" within 10 seconds goto line 1, else exit MMM

Any ways to do this in MMM?

Thanks in advance!

[mannymcmouseface]

Hi John,

The KEYBOARD KEYPRESS object is best used (should only be used) with a CONTINUE action. Like this:

4 | IF | KEYBOARD KEYPRESS | Keypress \ | IS | CONTINUE
This doesn't help your loop break. Your better to use a different environmental queue to a positive condition that breaks the loop.

A time works but you MUST know the current time for this to work. For this example the current time is 8:27:20 AM, the target time is +10 seconds at line 4.
1 work1
2 work2
3 work3
4 | IF | TIME | 8:27:30 AM | IS AFTER CURRENT TIME | GOTO MACRO LINE | 1 | ELSE | 5 | RUN ACTION |  |  |  | EXIT


Other alternatives:
 Network Packet from local host within 10 seconds:

4 | IF | NETWORK PACKET DETECTED | Local Area Connection 1 | SOURCE ADDRESS | 127.0.0.1::10000 | GOTO MACRO LINE | 1 | ELSE | 5 | RUN ACTION |  |  |  | EXIT
 File exist on a 10 second loop:


1 | RUN ACTION |  |  |  | DEFINE INTEGER VARIABLE | %INTEGER4%::0
2 | RUN ACTION |  |  |  | RUN VIA CMD /C | ping -n 2 127.0.0.1
3 | RUN ACTION |  |  |  | WAIT SECONDS | 1
4 | IF | FILE | C:\temp\check.txt | EXIST | GOTO MACRO LINE | 1
5 | IF | INTEGER VARIABLE | %INTEGER4% | >= | 10 | STOP | ELSE | 4 | RUN ACTION |  |  |  | GOTO MACRO LINE | %return%-1


Hope this helps.

[Johnc]

Thanks mannymcmouseface for your creative suggestions. Appreciated!
However, the time to force a loop exit can be different every time and therefore
the best input requires a human decision.

It would be ideal if the "CONTINUE" loop has a time-out parameter such that it
will not wait forever for a keypress input. It will just "auto" continue after 10S for example,
if no keypress is detected.

Hmm... maybe I can use the mouse position! If I wanna exit the loop, I will just move the mouse to the
lower right maybe?? Not sure if it works... Need to try it!

[Johnc]

I am getting close!

1 | IF | MOUSE POSITION EQUALS | {X=100,Y=100} | GREATER THAN | MESSAGE PROMPT | ok::ok | ELSE | 1 | RUN ACTION | | | | GOTO MACRO LINE | 4

2 | RUN ACTION | | | | WAIT SECONDS | 5

3 | RUN ACTION | | | | GOTO MACRO LINE | 1

4 | RUN ACTION | | | | STOP


The macro actually stopped when I moved the mouse to upper left but it did not exit the macro loop! It seemed to be waiting for something!
Moving the mouse away from the upper left resumed the loop!! 
Any insights??  Tks!

[Johnc]

replacing line 4 with:

4 | RUN ACTION | | | | EXIT

made no difference!

[mannymcmouseface]

Hi, 

I think this is what your after John.

1 | RUN ACTION |  |  |  | WAIT SECONDS | 5
2 | IF | MOUSE POSITION NEAR | {X=100,Y=100} | IS | WAIT MILLISECONDS | 1 | ELSE | 2 | RUN ACTION |  |  |  | STOP
3 Do actions
4 Do actions
5 Do actions
6 | RUN ACTION |  |  |  | GOTO MACRO LINE | 1

1 - 5 seconds to move the mouse near 100 100
2 - if the mouse is near 100 100 then wait 1 ms (basacally just do nothing) 
   - if the mouse is not near 100 100 then STOP the macro
3 - 4 - 5 - do your macro whatever it may be
6 - go back to line 1

[Johnc]

Hi mannymcmouseface,   (r u Steve BTW?)

Somehow your script doesn't quite work... It keeps looping without stopping.
Looks like the "MOUSE POSITION NEAR" condition is not very reliable.
My test example using "MOUSE POSITION" Greater than worked better...   Not sure why...  Tks!

1 | RUN ACTION | | | | WAIT SECONDS | 5

* | 2 | IF | MOUSE POSITION NEAR | {X=100,Y=100} | IS | WAIT MILLISECONDS | 1 | ELSE | 2 | RUN ACTION | | | | STOP

* | 3 Do actions

5 | RUN ACTION | | | | MESSAGE PROMPT | ok::ok

* | 5 Do actions

6 | RUN ACTION | | | | GOTO MACRO LINE | 1