This is actually a really cool idea for a site --
Fitzcairn's Macro Explain-o-matic is basically a web script that reads
WoW macros, and will go, line by line, through them to put exactly what they do in plain English. Sure, odds are that if you have a macro already, you probably have some idea of what it does, but if you've ever wanted to learn how to write macros, or aren't sure exactly what the macro your friend emailed to you is supposed to do for your character, you can just throw it in a text field, and then Fitzcairn's script will break it apart for you.
The site will even let you save (with
a permalink) and email any macros you punch in -- though I couldn't find a way to browse them, maybe Fitzcarin
is working on that. There are
lots of resources online to find macros, but not so many to explain them well, so the Explain-o-matic is definitely worth a bookmark for the next time you need a little help.
[via
Twisted Nether]
Tags: english, explain, feature, fitzcairn, help, macro, macros, permalink, resource, script, site, twisted-nether
Filed under: Patches, How-tos, Add-Ons
Sep 3rd 2009 at 6:00PM 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lord Plaza Sep 3rd 2009 6:04PM
Looks interesting.
Ozmodius Sep 3rd 2009 10:38PM
Just interesting??? This is great.
I've been working for weeks on a macro that will allow me to target my target's target's target's target's target's target but it NEVER works right.
I keep getting some player named Kevinbacon.
Evelinda Sep 4th 2009 12:35AM
oz, you win 1 internets
Rich Sep 3rd 2009 6:12PM
I can see it being useful for troubleshooting macros too.
Arras Sep 3rd 2009 6:25PM
was just thinking that...be a nice troubleshooting tool.
It'd be really cool if it worked the other way - convert plain english into a macro. "I want to cast banish on my focus" and it spits out a macro for you.
Braundo Sep 3rd 2009 6:36PM
Unfortunately, parsing plain language text accurately into something unambiguous is one of the ultimate "unsolved problem" problems of the software world.
Arras Sep 3rd 2009 6:51PM
definiely...and if something could be pulled off for WoW macros, it would probably be more like a checklist sort of thing instead of an actual translator
RetadinMan Sep 3rd 2009 6:24PM
This guy's on my server, Sisters of Elune
Precision Sep 3rd 2009 6:28PM
wow that looks pretty interesting. I wouldn't have a use for it myself (right now), but I can definitely see it being useful for some people.
Kooshi Sep 3rd 2009 6:30PM
The first (and only) macro I tried was:
/usetalents [spec:1] 2; [spec:2] 1
It didn't know the /usetalents command. Good idea, poor execution.
jared.daniels Sep 3rd 2009 6:39PM
Well it IS the beta... Perhaps they'll add commands as they go. Great idea, this is much needed for macro newbies.
Farrell Sep 3rd 2009 6:47PM
awesome - I had no idea that command existed.
I doubt this is a command that's terribly urgent for the site though - most people are going to want to use it to test macros in use during combat.
Still, thanks for the macro - saves me time :)
[Redundancy in it, btw - you can remove the "[spec:2]" and it'll work the same. Until they add a third spec, that is...
Phaye Sep 3rd 2009 6:58PM
Plug in this macro and the site explodes, though it successfully parses and executes in-game without any issue at all.
/cast [help, nodead] Healing Wave, [target=targettarget, help] Healing Wave, [target=player] Healing Wave
If Friendly and Not Dead Then
.....cast Healing wave
else
.... if Target of Target is Friendly then
.......... cast Healing Wave
.....else
.......... cast Healing wave on self
.....end
end
Phaye Sep 3rd 2009 7:01PM
Nvm, he's expecting ; (semicolon) instead of comma's
Arashikou Sep 3rd 2009 9:33PM
Woah - commas work in-game?
Fizzler Sep 5th 2009 12:30PM
Always use semi-colons and not comma's. A comma can also be interpreted as a pause.
If I had a castsequence that went like this.
/castsequence Frostbolt,,,,,,,,,,,,Frostbolt,,,,,,,,,,,,Frostbolt,,,,,,,,,,
Each comma would be treated almost like a pause. Multi-boxers use this often because most are button mashers.
Liltimmy Sep 3rd 2009 8:01PM
"though I couldn't find a way to browse them, maybe Fitzcarin is working on that"
He may be waiting to see if anhareshares any macros before he starts inplementing a browser for them.
It looks really frackin cool. I might recommend, for the share feature, presetermining which classes it would be useful for based on spells cast. For example, if the parser sees "/cast Prayer of Mending", that's only going to be useful for priests, whereas right now it allows the user to input any class.
But to reiterate, frackin awesome.
Rollo Sep 3rd 2009 8:35PM
It doesn't even try to explain the lua parts, just the slash commands. They are fairly self-explanatory anyway, at least if you read a primer like the one on wowwiki.
Bowien Sep 3rd 2009 11:02PM
This guy is in my guild, the Boomstick Saints. Recognize! Fitz is a good rogue and a cool dude too. :-)
Glyph Sep 3rd 2009 11:12PM
I think Fitz is a pretty cool guy, eh writes websites and doesn't afraid of anything.