#9: Macro - "Range Kerner". - Eskimo's Macros and More - Blogs

Sat, Jun 1 2019

What is Range Kerner?

Range Kerner is a macro that can apply a specified value of range kerning to a selected textrange.

It also shows the current range kerning value for a selected textrange, and can load that value into a ComboBox in preparation for applying that same value to one or more other textranges.

See Range Kerner in use.

Screenshot:

Using the macro.

When a textrange is selected, the Apply button is enabled. When the Apply button is clicked, the value shown in the Kerning to Apply ComboBox is used to set the range kerning of the selected textrange.

When a textrange is selected, and the entire textrange has the same value for range kerning, then that value is shown in the Sampled Value TextBox, and the Set from Sample button is enabled. When the Set from Sample button is clicked, the range kerning value of the selected text range is loaded into the Kerning to Apply ComboBox. This makes it easy to sample the range kerning from one textrange, and then apply that value to one or more other textranges.

Clicking on the Kerning to Apply label sets the value for the ComboBox to zero.

Using the Comboboxes.

The drop-down list for each combobox can contain “most recently used” values. If the combobox is not locked, then when a value in that combobox is used by the macro, that value is added to the top of the list. If an existing value is used from the list, then that value is moved to the top of the list.

For comboboxes that represent distances, values are applied by the macro in whatever units (inches, millimeters, etc.) are currently in use in the document for the horizontal ruler. If those units are changed, then the macro automatically changes values in those comboboxes to reflect that change.

Ctrl+clicking on a combobox sets that combobox to its default value.

Right-clicking on a combobox brings up a menu of options that allow one to manage the default value for that combobox and the list that is associated with that combobox.

These options include:

Setting the value in the combobox to its default value.
Defining a new default value for the combobox.
Adding a value to the list.
Deleting a value from the list.
Sorting the list.
Clearing the list.
Locking the list. When locked, the list is still available for use, but new values are not added, and the order of values within the list is not changed when an existing value from the list is used.
Changing the number of decimal places used for values in the combobox.
Enabling or disabling Auto-select for the combobox. When Auto-select is enabled, then the text in the box is automatically selected when the box is entered.

A Video Describing and Demonstrating the Special Features of My ComboBoxes:

Range Kerner Subs in the Macro Manager.

Start_Range_Kerner launches Range Kerner if it is not already open.
Toggle_Range_Kerner launches Range Kerner if it is not already open, and closes it if it is already open. Assign this sub to a command button or shortcut key to have a one-click or one-keystroke way to call/dismiss Range Kerner.
Remove_Range_Kerner_Registry_Entries removes all Registry entries that have been created by Range Kerner. The next time that Range Kerner is used, these entries will be created again, so this sub can be used to get a “fresh start” with default values and settings.
Range Kerner normally remembers the position of the form on the screen. If the computer display configuration has been changed in such a way that the remembered position is “off the screen”, then Reset_Range_Kerner_StartUpPosition can be used to reset the position to “Center Owner”.

Compatibility.

Range Kerner was put together in a CorelDRAW X7 environment, and should work in versions X7-2020.

OK, where's the macro?

JQ_Range_Kerner_Current.zip (most recently updated 2021-07-16).

That includes the .GMS file and a simple icon that can be used on a CorelDRAW Toolbar.

Please note that, starting with the version released on 2020-05-10, this macro uses a different scheme for storing combobox value lists and some preferences in the Registry. If you have been using an older version of this macro, those "old" value lists and preferences will not be there when you use the newer version. If you want to "clean out" those old entries that are not used by the newer version of the macro, the best way to do so is to run the Remove_Range_Kerner_Registry_Entries sub, which will set the macro back to its default values.