Return to page 1 of this review to read about System Requirements, Download and Installation, Methods of Macro Creation, and Playing Back Macros.
| Ease of Use | Rating  |
The basic user interface of the application is very intuitive. If you’ve ever worked with the macro recorder in Microsoft Office, you should be able to walk through the Macro Quick Wizard with little to no problems. If this is your first foray into the land of macro creation, it may take a little practice to get you up to speed. However, the wizards in Macro Express 3 are very explanatory, and they provide an excellent starting place for people wanting to jump right in to creating their first macro.
The only reason I am rating this component a 4 out of 5 is because there is a learning curve involved here. Beginners to macro creation should not expect to be able to create complex macros right away with the software. However, spending a little time with the tutorials and practicing with the recording quick wizard should have even the newest user creating basic macros in a short amount of time. The power of the software makes this time spent “learning the ropes” well worth the effort.
| User Support | Rating  |
The support options offered by Insight Software Solutions, the developers of Macro Express 3, are simply phenomenal. To begin with, the program itself comes equipped with a comprehensive set of tutorials that can be accessed from the Help screen of the software. On top of that, the Macro Express web site includes several video tutorials covering many of the application’s features.
If that isn’t enough, there’s also an active discussion forum where users can share tips and tricks, a newsletter archive, and a gallery of free sample macros that can be downloaded to use as-is or as starting points for creating your own macros. If you still have questions after all investigating all these resources, you can contact Insight Software Solutions directly.
| Price and Overall Rating | Rating |
The price for a single copy of Macro Express 3 is $39.95, but there are substantial discounts available for multi-user packages. Considering the capabilities of this program, there’s no question in my mind that the utility is worth the price. If you have any regular processes that you want to streamline or repetitive tasks that you perform, this is definitely an application you want to check out. Macro Express 3 does have a 30-day trial period so you can download the software and make sure that it meets your needs before you buy.
Even if you never create a single macro on your own, the dozens of shared macros available as free downloads make the application an attractive deal. Still, it’s worth taking the time to go through some of the macro tutorials to learn how to create your own. As I mentioned previously, it may take a little practice to become fully comfortable with the software’s abilities, but don’t let that deter you from trying it out. In fact, stay tuned to Bright Hub's Window Channel, because we'll be offering some tutorials of our own in the near future to show how this utility can be used to increase productivity in other Windows' applications.