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Macro Keys on Windows Pc

Developed By: CanalRun

License: Free

Rating: 3,3/5 - 79 votes

Last Updated: December 24, 2023

Download on Windows PC

Compatible with Windows 10/11 PC & Laptop

App Details

Version 1.0
Size 74.3 KB
Release Date May 02, 13
Category Tools Apps

App Permissions:
Allows an application to write to external storage. [see more (2)]

Description from Developer:
Macro Keys by CanalRun is a simple soft keyboard replacement with 2 improvements. A 2 percent boundary was inserted around the keyboard so that the edge keys, like "q" an... [read more]

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About this app

On this page you can download Macro Keys and install on Windows PC. Macro Keys is free Tools app, developed by CanalRun. Latest version of Macro Keys is 1.0, was released on 2013-05-02 (updated on 2023-12-24). Estimated number of the downloads is more than 5,000. Overall rating of Macro Keys is 3,3. Generally most of the top apps on Android Store have rating of 4+. This app had been rated by 79 users, 17 users had rated it 5*, 29 users had rated it 1*.

How to install Macro Keys on Windows?

Instruction on how to install Macro Keys on Windows 10 Windows 11 PC & Laptop

In this post, I am going to show you how to install Macro Keys on Windows PC by using Android App Player such as BlueStacks, LDPlayer, Nox, KOPlayer, ...

Before you start, you will need to download the APK/XAPK installer file, you can find download button on top of this page. Save it to easy-to-find location.

[Note] You can also download older versions of this app on bottom of this page.

Below you will find a detailed step-by-step guide, but I want to give you a fast overview of how it works. All you need is an emulator that will emulate an Android device on your Windows PC and then you can install applications and use it - you see you're playing it on Android, but this runs not on a smartphone or tablet, it runs on a PC.

If this doesn't work on your PC, or you cannot install, comment here and we will help you!

Step By Step Guide To Install Macro Keys using BlueStacks

  1. Download and Install BlueStacks at: https://www.bluestacks.com. The installation procedure is quite simple. After successful installation, open the Bluestacks emulator. It may take some time to load the Bluestacks app initially. Once it is opened, you should be able to see the Home screen of Bluestacks.
  2. Open the APK/XAPK file: Double-click the APK/XAPK file to launch BlueStacks and install the application. If your APK/XAPK file doesn't automatically open BlueStacks, right-click on it and select Open with... Browse to the BlueStacks. You can also drag-and-drop the APK/XAPK file onto the BlueStacks home screen
  3. Once installed, click "Macro Keys" icon on the home screen to start using, it'll work like a charm :D

[Note 1] For better performance and compatibility, choose BlueStacks 5 Nougat 64-bit read more

[Note 2] about Bluetooth: At the moment, support for Bluetooth is not available on BlueStacks. Hence, apps that require control of Bluetooth may not work on BlueStacks.

How to install Macro Keys on Windows PC using NoxPlayer

  1. Download & Install NoxPlayer at: https://www.bignox.com. The installation is easy to carry out.
  2. Drag the APK/XAPK file to the NoxPlayer interface and drop it to install
  3. The installation process will take place quickly. After successful installation, you can find "Macro Keys" on the home screen of NoxPlayer, just click to open it.

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Download older versions

Other versions available: 1.0.

Download Macro Keys 1.0 on Windows PC – 74.3 KB

Macro Keys by CanalRun is a simple soft keyboard replacement with 2 improvements. A 2 percent boundary was inserted around the keyboard so that the edge keys, like "q" and "p" can be pressed even if your phone has a protective case. Second, a function key is added. Pressing the function key followed by a single character key causes one of the predefined "macros" to be inserted into the text field.

The macros are predefined and stored in an editable file named: macros.xml. This file can be edited on the device, using a text editor, or the file can be transferred and edited on a PC or Mac.

Security: The macro file is not encrypted. Anybody with access to your phone or tablet can view the macro file. Requiring a password to gain access to the phone is suggested. Also, not using the macro definitions to store passwords, your Social Security number, or any other sensitive information is strongly suggested.

Installing Macro Keys:

Using the QR code above or from the Android Market app on your device, download and install Macro Keys. You can search for CanalRun on the Android Market.

Open your devices Settings app. Scroll down and click on the "Locale", "Text", or "Keyboard" settings option. Every device is different, my device says "Locale and Text", but yours may say something different.

Enable the entry "CanalRun Macro Keys". You will see a standard Android warning. The Macro Keys application does not collect any user information.

Exit the settings app. In any text field long click on the text field. A dialog box will pop up. One of the choices in the dialogue will be "Input Method". Click on this.

One of the choices for input methods will be "CanalRun Macro Keys". Enable this choice.

On the lower left-hand side of the keyboard, if you see a key labeled "Fn", installation was successful. You're now ready to use Macro Keys.

Editing macros.xml:

During installation Macro Keys creates a default macro file containing a single macro for the "a" key. When the "Fn:a" key combination is pressed, the string "Android" is output. Try it: press the "Fn" key, note it turns yellow, now press the "a" key, the text "Android" is sent to the text field.

You will find the file "macros.xml" in a directory that allows the file to be read and written to. On my device the directory is: "/mnt/sdcard/canalrun.apps.softkbd/". Yours should be similar, although it may be a little different on your device. You may have to search around a little.

Open the file with a text editor. You could use an editor on the device, or what I do, is use an FTP program to transfer the file to my PC. I edit the file on my PC and then send it back to the device – this seems to be a little easier.

The file is an XML file and can be edited with a regular text editor. In the file you will see a line that contains "key=a Android ". This line defines the "a" macro. The text "Android" is sent when the "Fn:a" key combination is pressed.

Suppose you want to enter your e-mail address each time the combination "Fn:e" is pressed. On the next line of the macros file create a similar entry substituting "key=e" and "bob@gmail.com". Save the file. Now every time "Fn:e" is pressed, the string "bob@gmail.com" is sent.

Go to http://android.canalrun.com for more information.


Added Later …
You can enter special characters using XML predefined entities. Use the format "&name;" (without the quotes). If you wanted to enter a less than sign, you would type the 4 character string "<" (without the quotes) in the XML file.

a full description of XML entities can be found on Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_XML_and_HTML_character_entity_references
Allows an application to write to external storage.
Allows an application to read from external storage.