Macro Editing for (the slightly more scholarly) Dummies

[Saefinn]

My method probably could be quicker, but it's not so bad if you're quick on the macros.

I use [Ctrl] mainly to go through a directory, with Light and Dark arts on Ctrl-9 and Ctrl-0 and couple of exceptions.

Main Directory (Also, essential spells):
Ctrl
[White Magic]
[Black Magic]
[Sublimation]
[Stoneskin]
[Equipment Change for MP Recovery]
[Target]
[Light Arts]
[Dark Arts]
Alt
[Attack] (reserved for any situation where melee might be useful, even if rare)
[Deo]
[Sneak]
[Invisi]

White Magic Directory (for each one, Ctrl-> Strategems Alt->Spells):
Ctrl:
[Main Directory]
[Cures] -> Cures, Regens, Raise/Rereaise
[Buffs] -> Protects, Shells, Blink, Aquaveil
[-Na spells]
[Weather Spells]
[Light/Dark Arts]

Black Magic Directory:
Ctrl:
[Main Directory]
[Elemental] (Separate book)
[Enfeebles/Drains]
[Helices]

Elemental Directory:
[Main Directory]
[Black Magic Directory]
[Earth]
[Water]
[Wind]
[Fire]
[Ice]
[Thunder]
[Light]
[Dark]

And an example of a magic directory:
Earth Directory:
Ctrl:
[Main Directory]
[Elemental Directory]
[Parsimony]
[Alacrity]
[Addendum: Black]
[Manifestation]
[Ebullience]
[Light Arts]
[Dark Arts]
Alt:
[Stone]
[Stone II]
[Stone III]
[Stone IV]
[Stone V]
[Sandstorm]
[Klimaform]
[Modus Veritas]
[Geohelix]


But I'll probably need to reshape them a bit just to try and make them more efficient. I find they work nicely if I'm working a single role, but they can be a little annoying when I've got to fill multiple roles.

[Delvish]

Sorry if I sounded like I was imposing on your play style but I prefer having them on split buttons

GL with your macro!

Not at all! I sometimes find myself tempted to create two macros myself, but I'd have to put them on a certain ALT macro line given my setup which means an extra button press and a possibility to fat finger a different CTRL key. In the end it feels almost safer having a default sleep button. And assuming Alderin's idea works, then it'll be even more effective, since I was always waiting on the /wait 1 timer for sleep I.

@ Saefinn: You have a similar set up to mine. I agree, having them all lined up like that is effective if playing one role, but playing multiple roles gets difficult. Same for me (and ultimately the same number of button presses, if not less). You might benefit from adding a few extra directories to access different sections of your macro book in a hurry, like a link to your cure directory while you're in the nuking set.

It confuses things a little bit more, but I wonder if anyone has resorted to having multiple macro books since we have such a macro?

[Saefinn]

Yeah, I'll probably do that and make macro switching quicker. I might do a separate set of macros for different play styles - I mean, I've found in some exp parties: AoE Regen II -> Helix/Nuke -> Heal is quite effective when you're main healer. My current set up involves a lot of macro hits. Perhaps in my elemental book, I've got sets for 'Light' and 'Dark' elements, so I could probably use the light book for a second set of cure/regen macros.

[Laraul]

CNTRL-SHIFT-[NUM] will quickly jump you to a page... CTRL-SHIFT-4 will jump straight to page 4, for example.

[Diska]

Here is my macros optimised for "PS2 pad".
I'm not sure it works well for keyboard or mouse.
It works very well for me.
----
Pad's L2-button menu
Ctrl-1 ----
Ctrl-2 Lv75 abilities(I have "Tranquility" only. Ctrl-1 may be used if i have more.)
Ctrl-3 Lv55 abilities
Ctrl-4 Lv40 abilities
Ctrl-5 Lv25 abilities
Ctrl-6 Lv10 abilities
Ctrl-7 Addendum: White/Light Arts
Ctrl-8 equip set1(for Cure)
Ctrl-9 equip set2
Ctrl-0 /sea all name <t>
----
Pad's R2-button menu
Alt -1 ----
Alt -2 Lv87 abilities
Alt -3 /ja Enlightment <me>
Alt -4 equip set0
Alt -5 /ja Modus Veritas <t>
Alt -6 /ja Sublimation <me>
Alt -7 Addendum: Black/Dark Arts
Alt -8 equip set3
Alt -9 equip set4
Alt -0 ----
----
Ability macros:
/ja LightArtsAbility <me>
/ja DarkArtsAbility <me>
/recast LightArtsAbility
/recast DarkArtsAbility
/recast Light Arts <me>
/recast Dark Arts <me>
----
Equip macros(run this macro twice when you want to use line 1(may need wait by hand)):
/equip Main ElementalStaff1
/equip Main ElementalStaff2
// other equipments...
----
Arts macros(run this macro twice when you need Addendum):
/ja Addendum: White <me>
/ja Light Arts <me>
// just a remainder
/echo Left hand is for the Shield.
/recast Light Arts <me>
/recast Dark Arts <me>
----
note:
ALL magics and other abilities are invoked without macros, are started BY HAND from the system menu. Use quick access for magic menu with Pad's cross-key right-left.
Rewrite equip macros if needed, even if it is mid of battle.
"Select next macro, before the magic casting ends. Select next magic, before the book of arts closes."
I use same macros for RDM/SCH. My RDM policy is "Select next magic, before the magic casting ends."

[Greggles]

I haven't used them in forever, but my SCH macros look something like this
[I]
Macro book 1: (Light Arts)
CTRL:
Set1: 1(Cure2) 2(Cure3) 3(Cure4) 4(Regen III) 5(Refresh) 6(Haste) 7(book switch into Dark Arts) 8(Animus Augeo) 9(Animus Minuo) 0(Sublimation)
Set2: 1-5(enfeebles) 7-0(same as set 1)
Set3-5: (empty except for 7-0 same as set 1)
set6: 1-6, 7-8(storms) 7, 0(same as set 1)
Set7: 1-6(Barspells) 7, 0(Same as set 1) 8-9(Protect and Shell)
Set8: 1-6(Enspells) 7-0(same as set 1)
Set9-10: 1-6(empty) 7-0(Same as set 1)

ALT:
These are all the same for the most part: Stratagems will change based on the set
1-2(Sleep 1, 2) 3-4, 6-7(stratagems based on which set) 8-9(Gravity and Bind) 0(Heal) *On Set 6, ALT6 is Libra. ALT7 is a macro which contains both Addendum: White and Light Arts so that you don't need two macros.

Macro book 2: (Dark Arts)
CTRL:
Set7-1: 1-6 Nukes(Tier 5), 7(Klimaform), 8-9(Drain, Aspir) 0(Sublimation)
Set2: 1-6, 8,9(Helices) 7(Klimaform), 0(Sublimation)
Set3-5: 1-6(empty), 7(Klimaform), 8-9(Bio II/Poison II) 0(Sublimation)
Set6: 1-6, 8-9(Weathers), 7(switch to healing book), 0(Sublimation)

ALT:
The same as the other book:
1-2(Sleeps), 3,4,6,7(Stratagems based on which sets) 8-9(Gravity, bind) 0(heal)


I keep the alts the same that way I'm not flipping through the books trying to find spells I might need. I can generally switch between roles quickly enough - a few people tell me that this is a very convoluted way of macros, but I dunno. They work for me at least. XD

[Merton9999]

It confuses things a little bit more, but I wonder if anyone has resorted to having multiple macro books since we have such a macro?

Yeah I do this. Both books match identically except a few sets have alternate spells related to the corresponding set in the first book. For example, I have the tier V and IV nukes on one set of the main book, and the corresponding tier III ones on the alternate book in the same set. One of my ALT macros (which are the same for every set), switches to the alternate book or back to the main one. This way if I want to throw in a quick tier 3 nuke in LA (or if for some reason I can't Add:Black) I can hit the macro that switches me to the nuke set, then the one to the alternate book, then nuke with a tier III, and easily return to the main book while it's casting.

I put all my Immanence SC commands in the alternate book on the set where Helices are in the main book. It has macros that look like this:

Macro 1
Equipment changes that require blinking

Macro 2
Immanence <wait>
First SC Spell
Equipment changes that don't require blinking + Staff

Macro 3
Immanance <wait>
Alacrity (if spell 2 is a tier IV or V)
Second SC Spell
Equipment changes that don't require blinking + Staff

Macro 4
Ebullience
MB Spell
Staff equip

Common enhancing spells like Phalanx and SS are on the main book's enhancing set, while the alternate book has enspells and spikes.

For double sleep macro, does this work for you guys if you are NOT in Add: Black?

/ma "Sleep II" <t>
/ma "Sleep" <t>

The claim is it will error on Sleep II and cast Sleep instead. It will NOT do this for me. It gives me the error "<Playername> cannot cast Sleep II" and then does nothing. I tried this concept forever ago expecting it to work because I've always had my RDM barspell macros like this:

/ma "Barfira" <me>
/ma "Barfire" <me>

That way if I am /WHM Barfira casts and it skips Barfire because I'm casting Barfira. If I'm not WHM it casts Barfire. I expected the same to work with SCH but it is treating the fact that I don't have Add: Black up as some prohibitive problem for the entire macro and never gets to the Sleep line.

[Delvish]

For double sleep macro, does this work for you guys if you are NOT in Add: Black?

/ma "Sleep II" <t>
/ma "Sleep" <t>

The claim is it will error on Sleep II and cast Sleep instead. It will NOT do this for me. It gives me the error "<Playername> cannot cast Sleep II" and then does nothing. I tried this concept forever ago expecting it to work because I've always had my RDM barspell macros like this:

/ma "Barfira" <me>
/ma "Barfire" <me>

That way if I am /WHM Barfira casts and it skips Barfire because I'm casting Barfira. If I'm not WHM it casts Barfire. I expected the same to work with SCH but it is treating the fact that I don't have Add: Black up as some prohibitive problem for the entire macro and never gets to the Sleep line.

Actually I posted a similar question a bit ago. The fix I did was did the <wait 1> command after the Sleep II, but I put the Sleep I command at the end of my gear switching.

[Ashlotte]

I'm Japanese, so please be gentle (my English skill sucks)

*Intro*
Hi there!　Well seems I'm little late
As many of you mentioned, I also use '/macro set' or '/macro book' to maintain my chain of macro-pages.

It confuses things a little bit more, but I wonder if anyone has resorted to having multiple macro books since we have such a macro?

Unfortunately I don't use multiple macro books anymore. Before AF3 came out, its worked for changing Light Arts gear and Dark Arts gear, but it wont need anymore. At the time I used AF1, I had a copy of my Macro set to keep sync gears with side of Arts. But still I use "/macro" so let me introduce my macro.

The point I focused are 'less keys to push', 'important spells reach fast', and 'less page-chain-keys'.
NOTE: "page-chain-keys" are macros that includes '/macro set' or '/macro book'.


*Less Keys To Push*
When I use enfeebles, I often don't switch Arts because it doesn't make much change on accuracy.
(and still its fast enough to cast; instead of adding switching Arts)
I decide to settle Spells and Page-Chain-Key in same (Alt+)line, so I can reduce chance I switch Alt and Ctrl Keys.


*Important Spells Reach Fast*
Because of Scholars need to control "Light Arts" and "Dark Arts", I decide to separate 2 basic-magics sets for Light and Dark, but I still want to make my macro switch quicker and stable.
What I thought is to settle "cure" and "enfeebles" to 2 Base pages.
I'm able to cure people faster, and sleep mobs faster.

for example:
Alt-8>2 always cast "Cure III".
Alt-9>2 always cast "Sleep".

Some spells that don't need gear changes like Haste or Na-Spells, use them through system menu.
Using system menu helps us out:

• Solve problem where to settle new or rarely used magics in my macro
• Sometime its bit faster, bit accurate than using macro (e,g, We don't want to use Dia by mistake, don't we? I remove them from macro)

Keep maintain list of magics (even during fight). Move important magics to top of the list.


*Less Page-Chain-Keys*
Keep number of Page-Chain-Keys in three.

here is my sample:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/405/24661319.jpg/
NOTE:WGri is "Light Arts" because Japanese version of its name is "Grimoire of White"

Description of First Row : Light Arts Base
Ctrl: Light Arts+Addendum, Sublimation, Penury, Celerity, Accession, Rapture, Target with Equip Change, Protect, Shell, Perpetuance
Alt: Regen, Cure III, Cure IV, Cure IV+Rapture, Silence, Paralyze, Slow, (LIGHT), (DARK), (ENHANCE)

"(LIGHT) key" (in image, its named "White")
Doesn't do anything in the Light Arts Base Page.
Is just be there for keep them in same format.

[Saefinn]

I've found that having my macros set out by spell type that actually it can be inefficient, it can be all the more awkward, say if I was nuking and needed to heal somebody, the amount of macros I'd go through would be just awkward. Though, I've not replaced those macros (though since improved them since my last post as I was a level 70 SCH then). These are still useful and can easily be switched back to.

I've got an extra book for different play styles. Currently they're Abyssea orientated and don't account for lower tiers or all stratagems, so most of my nukes pages are lacking 'parsimony' for MP efficiency because I find other stratagems take priority in Abyssea for me, particularly with the MM atma.

So for example:

Sleep Nuke:
Ctrl:
Root (Switches to a root set of macros for playstyle options)
Manifestation
Regen III (I cast Regen III when an enemy is slept to account for any damage they deal, I don't switch arts)
Aquaveil
Enlightenment (For emergencies)
Alacrity
Ebullience
Addendum: Black
Dark Arts

Alt:
Sleep
Sleep 2
Stun (in case I am attacked with Aquaveil down and want to cast sleep)
Break (back up if both sleeps are resisted)
Stone V
Water V
Aero V
Fire IV
Blizzard IV
Thunder IV

That accounts for my soloing.

Another example is:

Nuke/Heal
Ctrl:
Root
Celerity
Rapture
Addendum: White
Accession
Alacrity
Ebullience
Addendum: Black
Light Arts
Dark Arts

Alt:
Cure IV
Regen III
Raise
Stone V
Water V
Aero V
Fire IV
Blizzard IV
Thunder IV

This covers a lot of situations, for example when I'm teaming up for an NM and am not helping proc, healing people whilst others find proc, then all out nuking when an NM is procced saving space to quickly heal somebody if they need it. And if I'm proccing, I can have a set for all the procs.

Other sets include:
Skillchain
Nuke/Enmity
Nuke/Weather
Enhance/Enmity
Heal/Enmity
Heal/Helix
Heal/Enhance
Sleep/Heal
Enfeeble/Nuke
Enfeeble/Heal
Procs
PL

I've not accounted for level sync because I don't level sync my SCH, if somebody in a lower level needs me I offer to PL instead. I'll only jump into my macros and change 'Protect/Shell' to correspond with the appropriate tier for their level.