There are different possibilities to run a macro. You can run it locally, in the cloud or on a job server. You can run it completely, only step-wise or simply record the macro execution in another macro without executing it.

When the executed macro includes a command for which you must intervene (such as the saving of a result file when one with the same name already exists), a message appears to decide whether the data should be rewritten or should receive a new name. A lack of reaction within 20 seconds results in the existing data being automatically saved with a suffix (current time) in a new folder called 00GeoDictBackUp. The message waiting time can be changed in the settings dialog to be found by selecting Settings → Settings… from the menu bar. If running the macro in Silent Mode these (or other) messages do not appear and the results are back-upped automatically.

If only parts of the macro should not show messages, you can use the gd.getBlocker API command within the macro, instead.

Run complete macro

To execute the complete macro on the current machine, click Run.

Click Run in Cloud to run the simulation in the GeoDict cloud, see the Cloud handbook for details. To run the macro on machines connected in your local network, click Run in Job Queue, also explained in more detail in the Job Queue handbook. If interested in cloud simulations or job queuing contact Math2Market to apply for a GeoDict cloud or job queuing license.

With Live Update/ Unroll checked, every step is shown in the GUI. Additionally, all commands executed in the macro are recorded to the Session Macro, instead of only recording the GeoDictMacro:Execute command. However, the execution of the macro is faster if this box stays unchecked.

The Continue on Error checkbox below can only be checked if Vary is selected. Check Continue on Error to execute all parameter combinations entered to the Parameter dialog box that work and not only all up to the parameter that results in an error. For example, if the parameters 10, -5, 20 are chosen for the Object Solid Volume Percentage, the macro executes only for SVP=10. When Continue on Error is checked, it is also executed for SVP=20.

If Silent Mode is checked, no message boxes are shown during the macro execution.

Running the macro step-wise

Alternatively, the macro’s key commands can be executed step-by-step when clicking Step instead of Run (only available if Fixed is selected).

While stepping through the macro, the GeoDict’s GUI main screen remains active, so that it is possible to see and save intermediate results, as well as change the rendering from 2D to 3D.

The execution of the macro can be further controlled with Skip, Load Parameters, and Reset. During a step-by-step execution, the highlighted key command in the description area is jumped over when clicking Skip.

You must consider the consequences that the skipping of a command has. For example, an error message appears when skipping the creation of a new project folder for the data, so that the data is actually saved in the current project folder and then, trying to leave the (not created and not existing) project folder, and move up the folder path.

Clicking Load Parameters, the parameters from the highlighted macro command are entered for inspection in the corresponding parameters dialog box or in the module section.

However, when later executing the extracted macro command, the parameters continue to be taken from the saved macro. Modifying parameters in the inspected dialog box has no effect on the previously recorded macro or in the ongoing execution of the macro.

For example, when clicking to load the parameters from the command ProcessGeo Dilate the parameters used for Dilate MaterialID, Coating MaterialID, and Dilate by…, during the recording of the macro, are directly entered in the ProcessGeo section.

Loading the parameters might be interesting if you decide to abandon the execution of the macro at a given command, and to post-process the structure by modifying its parameters directly in the module’s GUI, to obtain a different result.

When clicking Reset, the first key command in the description area is highlighted again so that the macro can be executed stepwise from the beginning.

Recording macro execution

Click Record Only while recording a macro to record the commands and the variables edited in the Parameters dialog of the selected macro in the Macro Execution Control.