Overview

Macro GUI pages are HTML‑based user interfaces launched from Main Macros. The HTML GUI Editor provides a simple environment for editing these pages. It is not a browser, not a runtime engine, and not a visual designer — it is a text editor focused on Macro GUI development.

You open the HTML GUI Editor by selecting a Macro GUI file in the Macro GUI folder and choosing View or Edit.

What You Can Edit

The HTML GUI Editor can edit any text file, including:

• HTML – structure of the GUI page
• CSS – styling and layout
• JavaScript – page logic, event handlers, data binding
• JSON – configuration or data files
• XML – optional data formats
• Any other text file

The editor does not restrict file types — if it is text, you can edit it.

Editor Features

The HTML GUI Editor provides:

• Basic text editing (cut, copy, paste, undo, redo)
• HTML Auto Code
• JScript Snippet Library
• Editor Snippet Library

HTML Auto Code

A typing minimisation feature that provides a hierarchical pop-up menu containing commonly used HTML elements. Simply point and click to insert the selected element's source code directly into your document.

JScript Snippet Library

Contains a collection of reusable JScript code snippets. These snippets can be inserted into your HTML or JavaScript files to speed up development and reduce repetitive coding.

Editor Snippet Library

Provides a collection of ready-to-use code snippets, including complete HTML document templates and core techniques. Some of the more important templates and techniques include:

• GUI Form Common - A shell HTML document designed for files stored in the Common folder. It references all standard script and stylesheet files located in the Common folder.
• GUI Form Specific - A shell HTML document designed for files stored in any folder other than Common. It also references all required script and stylesheet files from the Common folder.
• Parameters - A technique for accessing parameters passed into the HTML document from the Main Macro.
• Query Strings - A technique for accessing data passed into the HTML document via query string from the Main Macro.
• DB Search - A technique for running SQL queries directly from your HTML document using the active database connection, and displaying the results.

Macro GUI Helpers

Macro GUI Helpers appear under the Macro GUI Helpers folder in the Macros - Main tab. They generate starter HTML pages that you can then edit in the HTML GUI Editor.

Examples include:

• Create Data Entry Page
• Create Data Search Page
• Create New Blank Page

These helpers create the initial HTML/CSS/JS files — the HTML GUI Editor is where you refine and customise them.

What the HTML GUI Editor Does Not Do

To avoid confusion, here is what the HTML GUI Editor does not do:

• It does not run or execute JavaScript
• It does not display the GUI page
• It does not load HTML documents via loadHTMLDocument
• It does not interact with args or macroGUIParams
• It does not integrate with Main Macros at runtime
• It does not preview the page

All runtime behaviour happens when the GUI page is launched using showHTMLForm, launchHTMLForm, or launchHTMLFormEdge.

Typical Workflow

A common Macro GUI development workflow looks like this:

1. Create a new GUI page using a Macro GUI Helper (optional)
2. Open the HTML GUI Editor
3. Edit HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
4. Save the file
5. Launch the GUI page from a Main Macro
6. Use QueryString, macroGUIParams, or args to pass data
7. Repeat and refine

This workflow keeps GUI development simple, modular, and easy to maintain.