Scripting Resources

When writing macros for HoTMetaL PRO 6.0, you can use several resources:

Predefined Events

HoTMetaL PRO 6.0 defines several events and special user-defined macros to handle them. These macros should be named according to HoTMetal's directives. For example, the macro On_Application_Open, for example, is called every time the HoTMetaL PRO 6.0 is opened. The user needs to define this macro and add it to Macro/hotmetal.mcr file. We'll cover all special macros later in this column.

General-Purpose Document Editing Interfaces

There are eight interfaces that mimic the HoTMetaL graphic user interface:

• Application
• Document
• Documents
• DocumentProperty
• DocumentProperties
• Selection
• Range
• Font

The DOM

HoTMetaL is using the Document Object Model (DOM) which is the standard model to access elements on a Web page. We have covered extensively the DOM in Column 40, The DOM, Part I: Analysis, and in columns 41 through 47.

Command Bar Interfaces

HoTMetaL provides interfaces to all its menu bars as well as to the user-defined menu bars.

COM Objects

HoTMetaL PRO 6.0 supports three COM Objects, defined in HMExtras.dll:

• HMExtras.fileDlg lets you access the file dialog, with all its rich set of commands (Save, SaveAs, etc.).
• HMExtras.buttonMaker lets you make new menu buttons.
• HMExtras.colorChooser lets you choose menu bar colors.