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In-depth tutorial for Macros?

August 21 (4 years ago)

Edited August 21 (4 years ago)

Hey all. I've seen people do some really amazing stuff with macros. Things like adding templates with images, really flavorful looking result screens for attacks and healing. The things in the Share your Macros thread (5 years old mind you) are so cool! I would love to be able to do those things myself but I have no idea where to even start. I can't figure out what Macros do and don't use API, if I'm copy/pasting a macro and it breaks, I don't even know where to begin to figure out what the issue is.

I already read the wiki and other related stuff, it's helped a little, but it still feels very basic and doesn't go into the really crazy stuff.

So are there any good tutorials for someone with zero programming background to teach me how this stuff works? Starting from the basics and going up to the advanced stuff?

August 21 (4 years ago)
keithcurtis
Forum Champion
Marketplace Creator
API Scripter

I don't think there's a tutorial, other than the documentation in the wiki and the Help Center (which largely echo each other). If you haven't already gone through it, the Stupid Tricks thread has a lot of material, and the index in the top post specifically groups things by theme, including general macro tricks.

August 21 (4 years ago)
Ziechael
Forum Champion
Sheet Author
API Scripter

The best way to learn is by doing, it will help build your understanding of the syntax and structure of a macro. Start small and as your understanding grows try more advanced techniques. It's a learning curve but this community will always jump to help whenever you have a specific question to answer.

There are so many different ways to do macros that a broad strokes tutorial isn't really feasible.

The main thing to remember is that a macro is basically the same as anything you can type into chat but saved as a quick call:

I'm a macro

will just print that into the chat

/em uses a macro

starts to build on that but uses syntax that turns the chat output into an emote which will take your name as per the 'speaking as' drop down.

The wiki has a lot of different options to explore so play around and if you get stuck, shout... it'll be a race to help you out :D