Introduction

The intent of this is to give you an understanding of how to create a macro using Macro Droid.
After you get the basics you should explore the app and try things on your own. I cannot provide directions for every trigger and every action and constraint that this app offers. I am still learning how to do things and am not the one to go to for technical support, that is the job of the developer and I'm just a user.

In this document I refer to tapping on an item but those of us who use TalkBack know its a double tap to actually tap on an item, assuming that is how you have your device set.

Macro Droid

Read more here.

This app will allow you to have 5 macros for free, if you want more, you should upgrade to the pro version. Even if you don't need more than five and like the app, consider upgrading to pro, just to say thanks to the developer.

Creating a macro

Open the app and you'll find a few buttons on the screen. There is a Macros button that will take you into the list of macros you have created. The add a macro button does just that and there is a templates button which is a list of macros from other users that have submitted their creations to the Macro Droid community.
There is also a settings button. One of the options I set is to not show options that require root access. I don't have my phone rooted and browsing things that require root won't do anything for me other than get in the way.
Don't mess with the settings for wizard mode as the wizard makes creating a macro very easy.

Triggers

Tap the add macro button and you will be presented with a list of triggers.
A trigger is what initiates a macro. There are many options and due to the variations in hardware there may be a few that don't work with your device.

One example of a trigger in a macro I created is flipping the phone from the face up position to face down. Macro droid waits for a trigger to be activated so it can carry out its instructions that you set.
Other triggers can be things like pressing the power button a defined number of times or even something like the phone is plugged into a charger.

For this example lets create a macro that when we shake the phone it clears the notifications.

• Scroll through the list of triggers until you get to shake device. They are alphabetical in the list so it may take a few screens to get to shake.
• Tap on shake device and now that you have selected a trigger the next step is to decide what happens when that trigger is activated.
• You now have a list of actions to browse through. Scroll through the list and tap on clear notifications.
• You will now be in the options for the action you just selected. I use the default option of clear all.
• When you are done tap the ok button near the right side of the screen.
• Next you are presented with the list of actions again. Here you can add a second action to the macro. If we wanted to, we could have something else happen after the notifications are cleared. Maybe you would want your device to play a sound or speak the time or turn the screen off. For this example, lets just have one action.
• Near the right side and usually near the bottom is the accept button. This tells the macro creation wizard that you are done adding actions and want to move on to the next step. Sometimes I've had to scroll down the list a bit to find the accept button, but it is there.
  Tap on the accept button to continue.

Constraints

Next we are on the section to add a constraint. These settings control when your macro can or cannot run. For example you could add a constraint that your macro will only work when it is plugged in or maybe even only run on Monday or only when you are at a certain location.
The configuring of a constraint works just the same as selecting an action, tap on the constraint and you'll find its options.

Lets add a constraint of Device Orientation.

• Scroll through the list of constraints and tap on Device Orientation.
• In the options select landscape.
• Tap the ok button that is on the right side of the screen.

Just like after selecting an action and tapping ok, you are back in the list of constraints. If you wanted you could add another constraint. For example if you only wanted this macro to run if the device is in landscape orientation and it is Wednesday, you could add a day of the week constraint or any other other possible constraints to your macro.

We are done adding constraints so move around again to the bottom right and find the accept button. Again, sometimes I've had to scroll a time or two to get to the accept button, but it is always there.

Now the wizard wants you to name your macro. You can also assign a category which I don't mess with. I know what my macro does by the name I give it and that is good enough for me. So tap in the edit box and name your macro. I'll call mine shake.

Tap on the ok button and your macro is saved.

You are now back on the first screen with buttons to create a macro, a button that takes you into your list of macros etc... In the list of macros you can tap on one and you have options such as changing the name, modifying the macro or to delete the macro.

In the settings there are options to enter your twitter or email information if your macro involves tweeting or sending an email.

Some other ideas for macros that my Wife and I have created...

• When her battery gets to 15% the macro sends a text message to my phone with a message to remind her to charge the battery.
• If the battery reaches 100% play a sound
• If I am disconnected from my home wifi network turn off bluetooth and set the ring volume to 100%.

You can browse through the templates to get other ideas of macros other people have created. You can add any of the templates to your phone by tapping on one and making any needed changes to the macro.

That should give you some guidance in creating a macro. This app allows you to make a simple macro like this one or you can get very advanced with variables which is more than I want to get into.