Macros
Macros are short text statements that
contain imbedded references to text data used by the program
fldigi. Macro definition files(s) are located in the
$HOME/.fldigi directory and all have the extention ".mdf". The
default set of macros are contained in the file macros.mdf which
is in the $HOME/.fldigi directory. Fldigi will create this
file with a set of default macros on its first execution.
Fldigi supports up to 48 macro definitions in sets of 12. Macro definitions are not recursive, that is; a macro cannot reference another macro or itself.
The imbedded references are similar to those used by DigiPan and other fine modem programs. The imbedded reference is an uppercase plain text descriptor contained with the <> brackets.
Reference definitions:
Local references are specified during the program configuration and can be changed during program operation.
Remote references are all part of the qso log field definitions and are routinely changed from contact to contact.
Global references are for items like Greenwich Mean Time.
The macros.mdf file can be edited with any ascii text editor such as kedit, gedit, geany, nano etc. But it is much easier to use the built-in macro editor provided in the program.
Right click on any macro key (or the alternate set) and a macro editing dialog opens with the current copy of that macro and its label. This looks very similar to the DigiPan macro editor at the urging of Skip Teller, KH6TY.
The Text box is a mini-editor with a very limited set of control functions. You can mark, bound and select text for deletion (ctrl-X), copy (ctrl-C), and paste (ctrl-V). Marked text can also be deleted with the delete or the backspace keys. The macro reference can be transfered to the current editing cursor location. Highlight the desired macro reference and then press the double << arrow key for each occurance of the reference to be put into the macro text. You can change the label name but any more than 8 characters may exceed the width of the button for the default sized main dialog.
The <TIMER> macro reference should be followed by an integer value for the number of seconds to wait before repeating that macro. For example:
You could use any label that is symbolic to the function required. Refer to the FLTK web site for a full list of label types.
If you modify the macros and do not save them ("Files/Save Macros" on the main window) fldigi will prompt you to save the macros when you exit the program.
The <EXEC>...</EXEC> macro tag provides a way to create external shell scripts and programs that can interact with fldigi. See Exec Macro to learn more about the <EXEC> macro tag.
Fldigi supports up to 48 macro definitions in sets of 12. Macro definitions are not recursive, that is; a macro cannot reference another macro or itself.
The imbedded references are similar to those used by DigiPan and other fine modem programs. The imbedded reference is an uppercase plain text descriptor contained with the <> brackets.
Reference definitions:
| <MYCALL> my call | <CALL> remote call |
| <LDT> local date time Zone format : %x %H:%M%Z
|
<ZDT> GMT date time Zone format : %x %H:%M %Z
|
| <FREQ> my frequency | |
| <ID> send waterfall video mode identifier | |
| <TEXT> send user specified video text | |
| <CWID> send AFCW "DE <MYCALL>" at end of transmission | |
| <MYLOC> my locator | <LOC> remote locator |
| <MODE> my mode | |
| <MYNAME> my name | <NAME> remote name |
| <MYQTH> my qth | <QTH> remote qth |
| <RX> return to receive | <TX> start transmit |
| <MYRST> my RST | <RST> remote RST |
| <CNTR> insert current contest serial number into the text stream | |
| <INCR> increment contest serial number | |
| <DECR> decrement contest serial number | |
| <TIMER>NNN auto repeat this macro after NNN seconds | |
| <MODEM>name cause program to change operating mode to named mode. Use the shorthand names that are in the pick list. | |
| <LOG> submit QSO data to logbook program & clear the QSO data fields. This macro reference is not constrained to a particular position in the macro. The macro reference action takes place when macro is expanded, so effect is seen immediately after pressing the macro function key which contains this macro reference. | |
Local references are specified during the program configuration and can be changed during program operation.
Remote references are all part of the qso log field definitions and are routinely changed from contact to contact.
Global references are for items like Greenwich Mean Time.
The macros.mdf file can be edited with any ascii text editor such as kedit, gedit, geany, nano etc. But it is much easier to use the built-in macro editor provided in the program.
Right click on any macro key (or the alternate set) and a macro editing dialog opens with the current copy of that macro and its label. This looks very similar to the DigiPan macro editor at the urging of Skip Teller, KH6TY.
The Text box is a mini-editor with a very limited set of control functions. You can mark, bound and select text for deletion (ctrl-X), copy (ctrl-C), and paste (ctrl-V). Marked text can also be deleted with the delete or the backspace keys. The macro reference can be transfered to the current editing cursor location. Highlight the desired macro reference and then press the double << arrow key for each occurance of the reference to be put into the macro text. You can change the label name but any more than 8 characters may exceed the width of the button for the default sized main dialog.
The <TIMER> macro reference should be followed by an integer value for the number of seconds to wait before repeating that macro. For example:
<TX>CQ CQ de <MYCALL> <MYCALL> k<TIMER>20 <RX>
- will enable the PTT and desired CQ CQ de W1HKJ W1HKJ k
- disable PTT
- and count down 20 seconds before repeating the macro
- after sending the text the count down timer button (upper right hand corner of main dialog) will display the current timer value in seconds. Press this button to disable the timer.
- the timer will also be disabled if the Escape key is pressed, the T/R is pressed, and macro key is pressed, or if a callsign is copied from the Rx text area to the callsign logbook entry.
The @ sign may also be followed by the following optional "formatting" characters, in this order:
- '#' forces square scaling, rather than distortion to the widget's shape.
- +[1-9] or -[1-9] tweaks the scaling a little bigger or smaller.
- '$' flips the symbol horizontaly, '%' flips it verticaly.
- [0-9] - rotates by a multiple of 45 degrees. '5' and '6' do no rotation while the others point in the direction of that key on a numeric keypad. '0', followed by four more digits rotates the symbol by that amount in degrees.
Thus, to show a very large arrow pointing downward you would use the label string "@+92->".
Here are my macro buttons suitably annotated:- The label for CQ is "CQ @>|", denoting that both <TX> and <RX> are present in the macro text.
- The label for QSO is "QSO @>>", denoting that only <TX> is present in the macro text.
- The label for KN is "KN @||", denoting that only <RX> is present in the macro text.
You could use any label that is symbolic to the function required. Refer to the FLTK web site for a full list of label types.
If you modify the macros and do not save them ("Files/Save Macros" on the main window) fldigi will prompt you to save the macros when you exit the program.
The <EXEC>...</EXEC> macro tag provides a way to create external shell scripts and programs that can interact with fldigi. See Exec Macro to learn more about the <EXEC> macro tag.