V. 6:7 (268-271): SIDEBAR: Testing your macros

Testing your macros

The lines between the {Down} macros separate the processing. Each macro is a separate line and you rename each macro as '\x in order to test it separately. You can use other letters if you choose. I always use '\x for test macros in order to avoid confusion.

Next, set up the range name for Range1, Range2, Counter1, and Counter2 using the /Range Name Down command. Lastly, when it is time to invoke the macro, put the cursor somewhere such that you can observe the down movement, and hit Alt x.

Enhanced uses of {Down}

If you read the documentation for 2.0, you probably know the tedium of typing multiple {Down}s has been relieved by allowing you to write {Down 5} in order to get the cursor to move down 5 when the macro is invoked. The first macro demonstrates this improvement.

Using {Down} with a range name

Less well publicized is that {Down} will take a range name as the number of time to move down. For the second example, you invoke {Down Counter1} and the macro would drop by the number found in the range Counter1. There will be situations in developing technical analysis programs in which the cursor must {Down} some number of rows which you have calculated. Some other part of the program could calculate that value, store it in Counter1, and then use it in the {Down Counter1} command.