Loading Sets of System Macros

System Macros (CTRL+&...) are real time savers for people who use the built-in applications on the HP Palmtop. Simple system macros can be used to open databases or memos at the touch of a key. More complex macros can perform such keystroke intensive tasks as running the TVM application in HP Calc and posting an amortization table in Lotus 1-2-3. Once you discover system macros the tendency is to create one macro after another until you reach the limit of 10. At that point it's time to get organized, take a look at your current macros and see if they can be categorized. For example, you might have one or two macros that work to let you start different databases or phonebooks. Another couple of macros might deal with HP Calc and yet a third group of macros may not fit into any category.

To start the process of creating sets of macros, open the System Macro application (CTRL+&...) and use the File Save as... command to save your current set of macros as BIG.MAC. Then delete all but the macros for HP Calc. If you want, use the cut and paste keys to move these macros to the top of the list in the System Macro screen. Then save this set of macros as CALC.MAC. Use the File Open command to retrieve BIG.MAC and create a new file by clearing (F7) all but the database related macros, cut and paste the macros to the top of the list and save the file as DBASE.MAC. Open the BIG.MAC file again and create a MISC.MAC file and save it as well. Any time you want to work with databases, you can begin by opening the System Macro application and using the File Open DBASE.MAC command. Then you can open the database with one of your database related macros.