Using Lotus 1-2-3 Macros

Lotus 1-2-3 in its various forms is possibly the best-known of all the programs intended for business use, and its capabilities are such that a knowledgeable user could use 1-2-3 as a word-processor, database and spreadsheet, needing no other programs. In the years since 1-2-3 was first introduced, its capabilities have steadily grown, but the most significant introduction was the use of keyboard Macros, later developed to the system of advanced Macros. The aim of this book is to introduce users, old and new, of Lotus 1-2-3 to the immensely powerful Macro facilities that 1-2-3 posesses, particularly in its latest versions. At its simplest, the Lotus Macro facilities allow any key combination to be designated to tasks like printing a phrase which will be used frequently, or carrying out the retrieval of files automatically. The more advanced use of Macros, however, amounts to a programming language in its own right, allowing the user to design customized programs that can utilize all the facilities of 1-2-3. This allows programs to be written for all kinds of specialized purposes, from simple accounting to medical diagnosis, if a suitable Macro program can be written. The Macro is a miniature program, a set of commands, which is set into action by pressing a nominated key. By making use of Macros, it is possible to ensure that long names or descriptions are always entered flawlessly, that long and complicated procedures can be carried out by pressing one pair of keys, or that the spreadsheet can be turned into dedicated program for working on accounts, analyzing the results of water samples, predicting birth-date from external abdominal measurements, forecasting trends in share movements. All of these are uses to which Macros have already been put, and the possibilities are myriad. This book should provide some insights for 1-2-3 users who may at present be tolerating clumsy methods of solving their problems.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Basic Macros: more background; a label Macro; other names; documentation of a Macro; the LEARN action; limitations; a formatting Macro; using the @ commands; debugging; direct typing; more extended Macro use. Part 2 Introducing Macro command: characters and commands; assignment; using (LET); using Put; keyboard input; waiting for a command; designing the Macro; design in detail; planned pauses; more complex copies; erase and calc. Part 3 Working with files: opening text files; open to real; using (READLN); using the string; converting string numbers; example of string handling; using the byte-pointer; using (WRITE); using (Writeln); numbers in files. Part 4 Branch and loop: tests and conditions; the (IF) test; labelling the branch; repeating action; using repeating Macros; approximate solutions by repetition; designing for iteration; an iterative Macro; circular references; subroutines; a no-return subroutine; using subroutines; passing parameters; the (FOR) loop; a text sort macro; using Dispatch. Part 5 Program construction: menus; menu actions; call and return menus; data entry; designing the Macro; testing the Macro; Macro design in more detail; fundamentals; outline plan; foundation stones; the main Macro; first subroutines; the tough stuf; play away; the (score) subroutine; minor subroutines. Part 6 Miscellaneous topics: beep and indicate; panel and windows; borders, frames and graphs; using (LOOK); getting the breaks; loop interruptions; error detection; a simple example; using SYSTEM commands; indirection; using a Macro library; using hte library. Appendices: Lotus user group; public domain software library; suppliers of 1-2-3 and associated software.