To share macros between computers, you can use shared files. You also can use the NetSendMacro function to send macros to other computers, and the net function to run macros on other computers.
This topic contains some tips how to quickly install QM on many computers using same initial settings. Of course, you don't have to follow the steps described below. Each user can simply install QM on his/her computer and configure it as he/she likes.
QM should be installed on each computer where it will be used. Clients can optionally use a shared file that is located on the server computer.
1. Install QM on the server computer.
2. Place the QM setup program in a shared location on the server computer (unless you will distribute it for each computer).
If you want to share a macro-list file between computers, perform steps 3 and 4:
3. In QM window, there is a list of macros and folders in the left. In the list,
create a folder for shared macros. Add at least one macro.
4. Export the folder to a shared location on the server computer. It will be
the shared file that other computers will use. To export, right click the folder
and select Export Folder. In the future, whenever you will add/delete/edit shared
macros, export the folder (overwrite the shared file).
At first, perform the following steps only on a single client computer. Later you will be able to automatically transfer QM settings on this computer to other computers.
1. Install QM. For example, run the QM setup program that is placed on the server computer. When installing, you can choose whether QM should run every time when Windows starts.
If you will use a shared file, perform steps 2 and 3:
2. Add the shared file: Select menu File -> Import, locate the shared file on the server computer, click Add As Shared File.
3. Check Options -> Files -> Reload Outside Modified Files. When checked, QM checks file write time every 10 min, and reloads if it is changed. If unchecked, the updated shared file is loaded when the user starts QM next time, or when reloads the main file (menu File -> Recent -> the first item).
4. To prevent the user from creating/modifying macros and settings, you can
lock the user's file (Options -> Security).
Also, you can remove the tray icon (Options -> General) to prevent the user
from closing QM through the menu or Ctrl+click.
5. If you want to be able to run macros on the client tomputer from the server computer, you can set this in the Options -> Network.
6. If you use custom toolbars on client computers, you can configure them too, because later you will be able to transfer toolbar settings (initial positions, etc) to other computers.
7. You can add more macros. If you performed steps 2 and 3, or step 5, you can send macros to client computers later.
1. If you have modified the macro-list file (steps 2, 4, 7), and want to automatically transfer it from the first client computer to other computers, copy it from the first computer (My Documents\My QM\Main.qml) to the same folder where is the QM setup program.
2. If you want to automatically transfer first client computer's QM settings (steps 3 - 6) to other computers, do the following: On the first client computer, export QM settings (Options -> General), and place the registry file in the same folder where is the QM setup program. Read more later in this topic.
3. Install QM on each client computer. You should reinstall QM on the first client computer too. The QM setup program automatically transfers the macro-list file (step 1) and QM settings (step 2).
Later in this topic you can read more about automating.
Registration
Enter QM registration code (when available) on each computer. You must have a license for as many computers as actually use QM (unless only you use QM on several your computers). On multi-user computers, if you are logged on as an administrator, this automatically registers QM for all user accounts. You don't have to purchase multiple licenses for a multi-user computer.
Upgrading
To upgrade QM, install new QM version on each computer.
There is a sample macro that automates upgrading QM. To use the macro, QM on each computer must be running and configured to run macros from other computers.
Uninstalling
Uninstall QM on each computer. On multi-user computers, delete My Documents\My QM folder for each user.
To install or uninstall QM, you must be logged on as an administrator. You don't have to install QM for each user in a multi-user computer.
When running QM on a computer first time, is automatically created local My QM folder in My Documents, and copied Main.qml file from the Installed Files folder in QM directory. The copied Main.qml becomes the main macro-list file for the user.
Users can create their own macros, because each user has its own main file (unless it is locked). This does not affect the shared file, because it is added to the user's main file as a shared file ([s] folder).
QM settings (including the main file path) are saved locally in the registry for each user. However, if user's main file is locked, he/she cannot access the QM window, and therefore it is difficult to change something. When a file is locked, the password is stored in the file.
If shared files located on the server computer are still unavailable when QM starts on a client computer (on Windows startup), can be used command line parameter N, which tells QM to wait for the file. Or, if possible, map the network folder to a drive letter, and Windows will wait for it when starting.
Assume, you have 10 QM licenses, and want to use QM on 10 computers. Each computer is used by 10 users (QM license allows this), and each user has its own account. You want to perform additional QM configuration on each computer (e.g., allow launching macros from the server computer). Since QM settings are saved in the registry for each user separately, you would have to configure QM 100 times. For each computer, you would have at first to configure QM on an administrator account, then repeat this for each user.
QM allows to automate distributing of QM settings. When QM starts, it looks for qmreg5.reg file in QM directory. If finds, imports it to the registry, unless it is already imported. It then places "reg loaded"=1 value in the "HKCU\Software\GinDi\QM2\settings" registry key to indicate that the file is already imported. Note: This requires administrative privileges; On Windows Vista, a consent dialog may be shown.
You only have to configure QM on one of computers. Configure it exactly as you want to see it on each computer. Then export QM settings (Options -> General), and place the reg file in an appropriate location. You can also configure QM macro-list file and automatically distribute it to all computers. All this is already described above.
The exported reg file includes the path of the current QM macro list file. You may have to open the reg file in Notepad and edit QM file path ("file"), as well as other file paths, if they are different on other computers. In file paths, you can use $qm$ (QM home folder) and $my qm$ (My Documents\My QM).
See also: setup command line parameters, run macros on other computers, lock file, encrypt macro, disable folder or file, lock toolbar, license.