One of the most annoying parts (for me) is to add Set variableX to %Delete% at the end of a macro.
It'd be useful to automate this.
How: As an action that I could place at the end of a macro, so it automatically deletes all the variables set in a macro.
thanks
Hi @hello,
There has been a fair bit of previous discussion surrounding KM variables - particularly about identifying them so that they can be renamed as a "bulk" operation. The conclusion I drew from these discussions is that there are so many ways that variables can be named, created, referenced and used in KM that such a task (just identifying them) would be impossible!
My suggestion to you would be what I now do: wherever possible use Local and Instance variables in your macros as these are automatically deleted when the macro finishes: problem solved!!
Would that work for you?
ah, nice. I've seen some recently uploaded macros using a Local__something nomenclature, so I guess that's the route to go then?
I would say yes to that.
BTW - did you know that setting a variable to %Delete% doesn't actually delete it from the KM system? All it does is stop it appearing in the Variables Inspector. Of course, if a variable had the text of War & Peace stored in it, then it makes a lot of sense to replace that with %Delete% as it takes up much less room.
Here's a peek inside my Keyboard Maestro Variables.sqlite file in the KM Applications Support folder on my Mac:
There are 574 entries in that file of which 472 are marked %Delete%. In other words over 80% of the entries in that file are redundant!
waaiit, what?
*[insert Darth vader meme screaming noo]
... it'll be an "interesting" weekend project to cleanup KM variables...
Don’t mess with KM system files - that could turn “interesting” into “nightmare”.
Hey @hello,
It looks like this will not be done anytime soon.
Highlight Actions, Step-by-Step for Debugging
Local and Instance variables are the simplest way around the problem
But that makes debugging your macros more difficult.
-Chris
