Macroing 102 - A Complete Guide to CM Keybindings

[forwardslashN]

Welcome to version 2 of \\N's macro tutorial, rewritten and improved. This is the key setup I find optimal, but your mileage may vary.
EDIT 4/28/16 - With the recent gun update, and the upcoming xenomorph update, this guide is a little outdated. I will update it when I can. You can still use the information therein for your benefit.

This is an advanced macro tutorial with the intent to improve your CM or SS13 performance and enjoyment. Macros are not a complicated programming language, and there is much you cannot do with macros, but you can automate simple tasks for convenience and generally do things quickly with the help of a few modifications to the keyboard layout. This guide assumes you are familiar with and use the hotkeys on the CM server, and also that you have read and understood THIS. If you are either not familiar with the hotkeys in the game or the macro functions as a whole, I recommend you familiarize yourself first. Getting accustomed to the hotkey setup can take a bit of doing, so I recommend playing around with it before moving on to macros.

Press TAB to activate hotkey mode. You can check what each key does in the OOC tab. However, hotkey mode doesn't give you the full functionality you, or at least I, want. So for that you can add in some special macro functions to get the full benefit of using a control scheme that doesn't shred your skin and make your wretch up gallstones.

READ THIS FIRST: To get the most of out macros, you need a programmable mouse where you can reassign mouse buttons 4 and 5 to a keyboard key. If you don't have a mouse that can do that, or you don't have keys 4 and 5 on the left side of your mouse, or you're playing on a laptop/toaster, just adapt my guidelines accordingly. Also keep in mind that you cannot assign clicking functions via macroing, hence the need to re-purpose those keys to something on the keyboard. You will need to set your mouse key 4 to period (.) and 5 to comma (,) for the purposes of this guide.

► Show Spoiler

With that out of the way, it is time to stop being a scrub and blossom into a robust, mean lean killing machine. Right click on the menu bar at the top of the Colonial Marines window, and select client, then macros. Good? Okay. There is a checkmark next to APPLY ONLY TO THIS GAME.

► Show Spoiler

BYOND separates macros into a generic list for every game and one that is specific to a certain game. If you play Colonial Marines, or just SS13 in general, you can REMOVE the checkmark use the generic list as a default layout for hotkey mode. When you are ready to add unique server macros, like CM, for example, you may instead CHECKMARK apply only to this game. These functions will override anything already present in generic list, so you may double up keys without having to mess with the default settings.

Anything the game already defines CANNOT be macroed. For instance, F2 is OOC and F12 removes most of the UI to clear up your screen. It is not possible to fully automate some functions because the .click function is dependent on world time in SS13, to prevent click spamming, on everything but the UI. So you cannot chain together consecutive .click commands without delay. I take this in to account in the guide, but remember that if you want to mess around with the macro functions on your own. It is actually possible to chain together commands with an outside macro, using a programmable mouse or some other program, but this is not what this guide is about. Also keep in mind that if you play other servers that are not CM, you may encounter strange macro-related behavior or no behavior at all. Goonstation is one example. Other servers disable macros all together. The ID Tag for macros is optional, and they will work with or without it.

To find where the macros are actually stored, go into the BYOND menu hub, then click the gear on the far right, then preferences, then select the advanced tab.

► Show Spoiler

The macros.dmf file is under the cfg folder; the specific macros.dmf list is under Skins, exadv1, spacestation13.

Because of the way macros are handled by BYOND, this method is not optimal when it comes to managing your keylists. A possible way to automate this is through a batch script, otherwise known as a .bat file,but that is not what this tutorial is about. If you can figure this out on your own, you have graduated to the level of master. Purge some xeno scum while typing in all caps/eat some heads and caress some poor sobs. You know as much as I know, maybe more.

.bat file removed since it is now outdated and has one or two minor miscellaneous issues.

► Show Spoiler

UPDATE!
REMOVED is a zip file containing all of the files you will need to automatically convert macro lists. The tool itself is in .bat format, so you must be using Windows. You can write something similar if you're running Linux. To use this properly, first locate your Skins folder as indicated above and then dump all of the .dmf files in the same place as your macros.dmf. The .bat file may be placed anywhere though. Once you have moved the .dmf files, right click on the .bat file and edit it with notepad/wordpad/whatever else. The third line should start with cd and have a path there. Edit the path so it points to your folder with macros.dmf under Skins, the same folder you dumped all of the .dmf files. You are ready to use the tool, and don't forget to reconnect to the server when switching macro lists.

If you have questions about this guide, PM me on the forums provided I am still active. Now on to the list itself.

I have separated the macro list into several categories based on function, and I have tried my best to give these keys a predictable pattern so you may remember them easier. I use the following format: Key+Combination Macro-Function-Here. Most of the functions are self-explanatory, but I will add comments in the form of //Comment when I find it necessary to explain something. This list may not be all-encompassing or future proof, and some commands are purposefully omitted because they are used infrequently. Adapt accordingly.

1. Global: Applies to everything in the game, regardless of role, and is in the generic macro list. This is the only time you will use the generic list as everything else is specific to Colonial Marines.
2. Marine: Applies to playing anyone human, though not necessarily a marine. Some of the say "" commands are left vague for your own write in response. There are a lot of functions in this list, and you do not necessarily need everything to be effective.
3. Alien Global: Applies to all xeno evolutions and castes past the larva stage. All the other xenomorph commands are added to this list.
4. Alien First Tier: Applies to the larva/first stage of the xenomorph lifecycle. Not all functions will work for every caste, but it has a catch-all function list for everything you may need at this evolution stage. The other evolutions will typically lose the hide and vent crawl abilities at stages 2 and 3 respectively, though they may keep some of the other abilities. I will only list abilities that are replaced in the key layout. You can use the middle mouse button, the scroll wheel, to activate spit/pounce for sentinel and runner castes.
5. Alien Hunter: Applies to xenomorph hunters and ravagers. Ravagers do not get any benefit from stalking and they cannot ventcrawl.
6. Alien Crusher: Applies to xenomorph crushers only.
7. Alien Spitter: Applies to xenomorph spitters and praetorians. Praetorians can emit pheromones.
8. Alien Boiler: Applies to xenomorph boilers only.
9. Alien Hivelord: Applies to xenomorph hivelords only.
10. Alien Carrier: Applies to xenomorph carriers only.
11. Alien Queen: Applies to xenomorph queens/empresses only. This is the most complicated xenomorph keyboard setting and requires some familiarity with the layout.
12. Predator: Applies only to predators/yautja. I do not play predator, and this was submitted by Gelonvia. I think the button placement should be fine though.
13. Hellhound: These are the predator's lapdogs. Hellhounds have very limited interactions and they can't do custom emotes. I've noted the emotes they can use, but there are 2-3 that are unlisted. Say "*help" to see them all.

GLOBAL

• C Stop-Pulling
  Space Resist
  Shift+A Westface
  shift+D Eastface
  Shift+E .click Toggle //This will show/hide the equipment screen.
  Shift+F Me
  Shift+G Whisper
  Shift+Q .click Close //This will close container screens (backpacks/boxes), but does not work perfectly.
  shift+S Southface
  Shift+T Say
  shift+W Northface
  Shift+Z Show-Held-Item
  Shift+F2 LOOC

MARINE

• V .click Marine-Combat-Boots //Will retrieve your boot knife. Use again to put it back.
  , .click Eject-magazine\nActivate-Held-Object\nSwap-Hand\say "Reloading!" //Tactical reload. Hold the weapon with both hands, with the active hand on the weapon itself.
  . Toggle-Burst-Fire-Mode DEPRECIATED. .click Toggle-burst-fire
  `(tilde) Toggle-Aiming-Mode //Placeholder until something resembling a motion scanner is added.
  Shift+1 Say "write_in"
  Shift+2 Say "write_in"
  Shift+3 Me "write_in"\n say "write_in"
  Shift+4 Me "write_in"\n say "write_in"
  Shift+,Pump-Shotgun DEPRECIATED. .click Use-unique-action
  Shift+. Use-Scope DEPRECIATED. .click Activate-weapon-attachment
  Shift+Ctrl+A Westface\nSay "enemy_sighting_west_write_in" //This was originally a Ctrl+ command, but I frequently ran into issues when Ctrl clicking to drag. Change it if you need to.
  Shift+Ctrl+D Eastface\nSay "enemy_sighting_east_write_in"
  Shift+Ctrl+S Southface\nSay "enemy_sighting_south_write_in"
  Shift+Ctrl+W Northface\nSay "enemy_sighting_north_write_in"

ALIEN GLOBAL

• ` Hive-Status
  Shift+1 Say "*hiss"
  Shift+2 Say "*growl"
  Shift+3 Say "*tail"
  Shift+4 Say "*roar"
  shift+E Toggle-Darkvision
  shift+C Regurgitate
  shift+Z Transfer-Plasma
  Shift+Ctrl+A Me "write_in"
  Shift+Ctrl+D Me "write_in"
  Shift+Ctrl+S Me "write_in"
  Shift+Ctrl+W Say "*dance"

ALIEN FIRST TIER

• V Ready-Tail-Attack-(20)
  , Plant-Weeds-(75)
  . Secrete-Resin-(75)
  Space Crawl-Through-Vent
  Shift+, Emit-Pheromones-(30)
  Shift+Space Hide

ALIEN HUNTER

• , .click Mov_Intent //This makes the hunter transparent and harder to detect.
  . Ready-Tail-Attack-(20)

ALIEN CRUSHER

• , Toggle-Charging
  . Stomp-(50)

ALIEN SPITTER

• , Toggle-Spit-Type
  . Ready-Tail-Attack-(20)

ALIEN BOILER

• , Toggle-Bombard-Type
  . Bombard-(200-250)
  Space Toggle-Long-Range-Sight-(20)

ALIEN HIVELORD

• Space Resin-Walker
  Shift+. Dig-Tunnel-(200)

ALIEN CARRIER

• . Ready-Tail-Attack-(20)

ALIEN QUEEN

• Space Lay-Egg-(100)
  Shift+T Psychic-Whisper
  Shift+V Gut-(200)
  Shift+` Set-Hive-Orders-(50)
  Shift+. Produce-Jelly-(350)
  Shift+Space Screech-(250)

PREDATOR

• Shift+4 Say "*roar"
  , Toggle-Cloaking-Device
  . Toggle-Wrist-Blades

HELLHOUND

• Space Say "*sniff"
  Shift+1 Say "*howl"
  Shift+2 Say "*growl"
  Shift+3 Say "*tail"
  Shift+4 Say "*roar" //Only this one has a SFX attached.
  Ctrl+A Say "*rumble"
  Ctrl+D Say "grunt"
  Ctrl+S Say "whimper"
  Ctrl+W Say "*dance"

[forwardslashN]

Updated.

[Yottawhat]

Is there any way to macro certain resin constructions? I want to set up a sticky resin hotkey but I'm not sure how.

[forwardslashN]

Not that I know of. Unless there is a verb to specifically create sticky resin, you won't be able to do that. If you have a programmable mouse, you may be able to add in a macro through it instead. Not entirely reliable though.

[sicktrigger]

you appear to have forgotten to set a macro for 'Pick-up basketball'

[ZDashe]

You might wanna update Hivelord's Resin Walker. It's already be updated and implemented.

[forwardslashN]

You might wanna update Hivelord's Resin Walker. It's already be updated and implemented.

It's actually the same as it is listed in the guide. I removed the to be implemented notice.

[Mitchs98]

Bro. This gets literally all of my +1's. Literally all. I'll combat medic more often now that I can macro literally everything o.o

[Gelonvia]

It's actually the same as it is listed in the guide. I removed the to be implemented notice.

Hey \\N, in order to make things more complete, heres a couple Macro's for Predators aswell.

Toggle-Cloaking-Device
Toggle-Wrist-Blades

To roar as a Yautja is the same Macro as Roaring for Aliens. Once i figure out how to Macro self destruct I will post that for you there aswell.

[forwardslashN]

Hey \\N, in order to make things more complete, heres a couple Macro's for Predators aswell.

Toggle-Cloaking-Device
Toggle-Wrist-Blades

To roar as a Yautja is the same Macro as Roaring for Aliens. Once i figure out how to Macro self destruct I will post that for you there aswell.

Thank you, I added it to the guide along with the Hellhound macros. Also made a correction to a Boiler verb--I am still missing one Boiler verb simply because I forgot about it but I will add it soon. Also soon, I am going to release the tool I use to change macros very quickly. That should wrap up this guide.

[forwardslashN]

Added the boiler verb and uploaded the tool. This guide is more or less complete, though the predator section may use some fluff.

[Bolajay1]

should add a ravager section too

[forwardslashN]

should add a ravager section too

It's under the hunter section. Once you evolve into a hunter, you don't need to change anything for ravager.

[username123]

It's under the hunter section. Once you evolve into a hunter, you don't need to change anything for ravager.

Can you add a macro with the Left Click Button?

[forwardslashN]

Can you add a macro with the Left Click Button?

That's not possible in Byond. You will need to macro it through an outside program and change the left click to something else, like a keyboard key. Or macro left click to use another macro. I wouldn't recommend it as you use your left click to interact with the game.

[username123]

That's not possible in Byond. You will need to macro it through an outside program and change the left click to something else, like a keyboard key. Or macro left click to use another macro. I wouldn't recommend it as you use your left click to interact with the game.

what about a macro that triggers the left click button?

[forwardslashN]

what about a macro that triggers the left click button?

.click is the macro function for clicking on things. You can rebind left click with an outside program, or macro left click into another macro. But this is all not something you can do in Byond and would require a separate tutorial.

Point being, you can't do much with clicking functions with macros. You can, however, modify them in the game code. But that's not something we have access to.

[username123]

.click is the macro function for clicking on things. You can rebind left click with an outside program, or macro left click into another macro. But this is all not something you can do in Byond and would require a separate tutorial.

Point being, you can't do much with clicking functions with macros. You can, however, modify them in the game code. But that's not something we have access to.

I wanted to make a macro for a long time for dual wielding handguns, something that can left click the object in the screen and then swap hands, i guess it can't be made.

[forwardslashN]

I wanted to make a macro for a long time for dual wielding handguns, something that can left click the object in the screen and then swap hands, i guess it can't be made.

You need to make an outside macro. If you have a mouse wheel, this will work well. Bind Swap-Hand in Byond to something like [ or ]. Go into your outside mouse program and look at macros. Click add, record, left click, press [ or ] then stop. The timing is something you will need to adjust based on testing. Name the macro. Then go to buttons and reassign the middle mouse button (mouse wheel) to the macro you just made. When you click the scroll wheel, it will click and switch hands.

[username123]

You need to make an outside macro. If you have a mouse wheel, this will work well. Bind Swap-Hand in Byond to something like [ or ]. Go into your outside mouse program and look at macros. Click add, record, left click, press [ or ] then stop. The timing is something you will need to adjust based on testing. Name the macro. Then go to buttons and reassign the middle mouse button (mouse wheel) to the macro you just made. When you click the scroll wheel, it will click and switch hands.

I've done that, the thing with an outside macro for what i intent to do is that you with and inside macro, you press the button and the two verbs are sent at the same time and because of that, you can shoot faster, but with an outside macro, you click to shoot, and then you press the other hotkey to swap hand which sends the other verb to the server depending on how fast you are + latency, and you end shooting slower with two handguns compared to shooting a single one, thats the problem.

[forwardslashN]

You shouldn't be pressing another hotkey. And you can adjust the timing on the macro, as there should be no delay unless you want a delay. Aside from that, I can't really offer more help.

[ThatOneEngie]

I can't seem to find the macro.dmf file, or macros.dmf. Any idea why?

[forwardslashN]

I can't seem to find the macro.dmf file, or macros.dmf. Any idea why?

You might need to actually add macros for it to be present. Add any macro to the default and game list, and both should show up. This should not matter unless you plan to mess with the files with an editor; the location of the files will be the same as what is shown in the guide.

[MauroVega]

RIP Use-Scope macros

[Youbar]

Has anybody figured out the command used for secondary fire (underslung grenade launcher)?

I've tried Load-From-Attachment, but then I have to click through two menus rather than just one.

EDIT:

.click Activate-weapon-attachment worked, but I'd love to skip past the one menu that appears.