Help - Using The Action Machine

Below you'll find a series of short videos, as well as some additional information to help you get up-and-running with The Action Machine.

User's Guide

Videos:

Windows/Mac Versions - Feature Differences:

FAQs:

Other Resources:

Be sure to click the full-screen button on each video for the best viewing experience!

Quickstart

Creating And Working With Actions/Action Lists

Creating And Working With Timers/Timer Groups

Reports

Version 2.1 New Features

Version 2.2 New Features: Part 1

Version 2.2 New Features: Part 2

Version 2.3 Changes:

There were several minor changes in version 2.3, most of which will go unnoticed to you.

The biggest change was the removal of built-in image backgrounds (you may STILL customize the application background with your own images).

The reason for this is that the built-in images (which were mostly in hi-definition) were causing the application to consume a lot of memory and resources on some machines.

Windows/Mac Versions - Feature Differences:

While the Windows and Mac versions of The Action Machine are nearly identical in functionality, here are a few differences to be aware of:

Action Lists

  • Windows - Action Lists are imported and exported. This means a dialog box opens to allow you to either open (import) the current Action List (which is a .txt file) or save (export) it.
  • Mac - Action Lists are loaded or copied. When you click the link to load an Action List, a box appears allowing you to manually enter the full directory path to the Action List (.txt file) you wish to load, whether it exists on your computer or online. This is similar to importing on the Windows version.

    Clicking the link to copy an Action List will place the data for the currently displayed Action List onto your clipboard. Paste that data into a simple text file and save it to create a shareable Action List. This is similar to exporting on the Windows version.

Reports

  • Windows - Reports data can be printed, saved, or copied to the clipboard.
  • Mac - Reports data can only be copied. To print or save it, first copy it to your clipboard, then paste it into a simple text file and either save or print that file.

Setting the Application Background

  • Windows - Setting the application background is accomplished by using a dialog box to browse your computer for an image file to use.
  • Mac - You must enter the full directory path to the image file manually, whether it exists on your computer or online.

Balloons/Tooltips

  • Windows - Tooltips appear over various interface items when the mouse hovers over them. A System Tray balloon appears when a timer is completed.
  • Mac - Neither tooltips or System Tray balloons are supported.

FAQs

  • Q: Why does text appear twice (ttwwiiccee) when entering a new action?

    A: This is due to a strange conflict between The Action Machine and a program called ActiveWords. A workaround is to either disable ActiveWords when using The Action Machine, or start The Action Machine first, prior to starting ActiveWords.
  • Q: I'm not seeing the entire interface, what's wrong?

    A: This is usually due to your screen resolution settings. The Action Machine requires a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. Check to make sure yours is set to at least this setting.
  • Q: I cleaned up files on computer recently, and my saved data has disappeared. How can I get it back?

    A: Some Windows 'cleaner' utilities will remove the Action Machine data file (named ActionMachine.sol) when they 'sweep' your computer clean.

    To restore this file to its original location or to set your sweeper utility from removing it in the first place, you need to know its location on your computer, which is:

    Main Drive > Documents and Settings > [Your User Name] > Application Data > Macromedia > Flash Player > #SharedObjects > [Random Folder Name] > localhost > ActionMachine.sol

    Specifically, the Action Machine data file is something CCleaner considers a Flash cookie. I believe it has an option to prevent the deletion of these (Flash cookies) in the cleanup process.

    If you set it to keep Flash cookies, you shouldn't have this issue again.
  • Q: How can I minimize the system resources used by The Action Machine?

    A: For best results, minimize The Action Machine to the System Tray when you're not interacting or viewing it.