Macro

A Macro is a shortcut to execute a sequence of one to six, each of which can be used to active a Job Ability, start casting a spell, issue a pet command, change an equipment, put text to a chat channel, or perform some other function.

The execution is sequential, and can be interrupted by activating another macro during /wait commands or by pressing the Escape key or the cancel button on controller/gamepad during select target (e.g.  or others). A macro interrupted during its execution will not complete the command on which the interruption occurred, nor execute the remaining commands in the sequence.

Users are given 20 Books, with 10 macro palettes each. Each palette consists of 2 rows of 10 macros each. Every Content ID or character has its own, unique set of macro palettes, which are not shared with other characters on the same account. Note that the macros are tied to the game clients, not the game servers; user playing the same account on a different client machine (e.g. another PC, PS2, or Xbox 360) will not have access to macros written on the previously used machine. *update will change this*

PC client users can safely back up macro files while not logged on to the character. (The files seemed to be saved from memory to files when zoning and when logging off, and perhaps at other times.) The default location for files containing the macros for PC clients is at:

C:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\USER\{ID}\mcr*.dat

PS2 Users can use POL storage in their PS2 browser to store up to 4 sets of 20 book macros each (Slot A, Slot B, Slot C, Slot D), each slot is marked with the Name of the Character, Date the macro set was saved to storage, and the time it was saved to storage, they can be switched at the Character Select screen when logging on. To Save a set of Macros, push and Hold L1 & L3 while the cursor is on your character and choose storage slot to save to (Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B also triggers the Save functionality). To Load a set of Macros, push and hold R1 & R3 while the cursor is on your character and choose the storage slot to load from, macro sets are marked by date & time when stored this way (Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R will also enable a Load). If you have more than one character on your account, you can share macros between different characters this way. Macros are stored on the PS2 and can not be loaded from another console.

Available commands
Each macro starts with a command to determine what type of command you will issue. The most common are as follows.


 * {| border="0" width="60%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"

! style="background:#ffdead;" width="25%" | Command ! style="background:#ffdead;" width="75%" | Definition
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /ja
 * Job Ability
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /magic or /ma
 * Magic
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /song or /so
 * Song
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /ninjutsu or /nin
 * Ninjutsu
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /ws
 * Weapon Skill
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /range, /ra, /shoot, /throw or /toss
 * Performs a ranged attack on target. Will not activate without a target on the command line. (i.e., '/range ' won't work, but '/range ' will.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /equip
 * Equip an item
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /recast
 * Displays recast time for Abilities or Spells
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /pcmd
 * Party command
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /pet
 * Pet commands
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /party or /p
 * Party Chat
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /linkshell or /l
 * Linkshell Chat
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /say or /s
 * Say Chat
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /shout or /sh
 * Shout Chat
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /tell or /t
 * Sends a message to target player
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /reply or /r
 * Replies to the last person to /tell you
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /check or /c
 * Examines Player or Gauges the monster
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /target or /ta
 * Moves active pointer to target specified by targeting pronoun
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /targetnpc
 * Targets closest NPC (including player pets if /ignorepet command is not active)
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top
 * Identifies macros and their usage
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /echo
 * Displays text viewable only by the Macro user
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /wait #
 * Used in between other commands in macros to set a delay before moving onto the next line. Can only be single digit numbers 1-60 without decimals.  Any wait time over 60 seconds is counted as 0.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /sc /seacom
 * Allows users to create Search Comment macros and write to specific lines. Example: /sc 1 RDM 64 {Looking For Party} /sc 2 Main Heal: {All Right!} /sc 3 {Please Invite Me}
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /scu /seacomup
 * Allows user to set the category that a /seacom macro is inserted into. Usage: /scu "category name" "sub category number" Available Categories: expparty, mission, quest, item synthesis, battlefield, others. Sub Categories: 1 Seek Party, Want to Sell, Need Made 2 Find Member, Want to Buy, Can Make. 3 Other. If no sub category is selected, the message is written to 3 (Other) Example Usage /sc 1 RDM 64 {Looking For Party} /sc 2 Main Heal: {All Right!} /sc 3 {Please Invite Me} /wait 2 /scu "expparty" 1 /inv on
 * }
 * }

Selecting a Target (Pronouns)
At the end of your macro line, you must choose a target in which to activate the spell or ability. The available are as follows:


 * {| border="0" width="50%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"

! style="background:#ffdead;" width="25%" | Pronoun ! style="background:#ffdead;" width="75%" | Target
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * 
 * Activates automatically on your character
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * 
 * Activates on current selected target. If a command is missing a target, or the target is unrecognizable, its target is assumed to be the player's current target. For instance '/ma "Fire II" '.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * 
 * Activates on last monster claimed by party (will not work on alliance targets)
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * 
 * Activates on Call for Help target
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * 
 * Activates on NPC Fellow
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * 
 * Activates after toggling between available targets
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Activates after toggling between available player characters
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Activates after toggling between available NPCs
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Activates on last target acquired from or
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * 
 * Activates on last player to /tell you (similar to /reply)
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your pet's name
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your pet's HP in %
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your pet's TP%
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your widescan target
 * }
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your pet's TP%
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your widescan target
 * }
 * Your widescan target
 * }

Targeting specific party and allience members:


 * {| border="0" width="50%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"

! style="background:#ffdead;" width="25%" | Pronoun ! style="background:#ffdead;" width="75%" | Target
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * 
 * Targets self
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * 
 * Targets second party member, and so on to 
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Targets top most alliance, first member, and so on to
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Targets second alliance, first member, and so on to to
 * }
 * Targets second alliance, first member, and so on to to
 * }

Syntax
When using the top three commands especially, there is a certain syntax you must follow in order to get the macro to work effectively. When programming your macros, be sure to always include proper spelling, punctuation, and targets.


 * {| border="0" width="75%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"

! style="background:#ffdead;" width="40%" | Syntax ! style="background:#ffdead;" width="60%" | Example
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /ja "Job Ability" 
 * Example: /ja "Benediction"  Example: /ja "Steal" 
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /ma "Spell Name" 
 * Example: /ma "Blizzard IV"  Example: /ma "Curaga"
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /so "Song Name" 
 * Example: /so "Army's Paeon III" <me> Example: /so "Horde Lullaby" <t>
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /ws "WeaponSkill" 
 * Example: /ws "Sturmwind" <bt> Example: /ws "Hexa Strike" <bt>
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /range "[target name]"
 * Example: /ra Example: /shoot <bt> Example: /throw
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /equip "Gear"
 * Example: /equip ring1 "Zircon Ring" Example: /equip main "Ice Staff" Example: /equip main (if you do not put anything, you remove the current item) Valid slots are: Main, Sub, Range, Ammo, Head, Neck, L.ear, Ear1, R.ear, Ear2, Body, Hands, L.ring, Ring1, R.ring, Ring2, Back, Waist, Legs, Feet

note: there are 2 alternatives for Ear and Ring slots note: /pet commands will vary based on your job and level.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * '''/ta "Target Name or Pronoun"
 * Example: /ta <bt> Example: /ta "Helm Beetle"
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * '''/pcmd [subcommand] "Target"
 * Example: /pcmd add "Dudeman" Example: /pcmd leave
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * '''/pet [subcommand] "Target"
 * Example: /pet "Deploy" <t> Example: /pet "Deactivate" <me>
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * /? [macro]
 * Example: /? /pcmd Example: /? /equip
 * }

Misc.
These are just some additional things which make using macros more helpful. These may be placed anywhere in a /s or /p string.


 * {| border="0" width="75%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"

! style="background:#ffdead;" width="40%" | Syntax ! style="background:#ffdead;" width="60%" | Definition
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * <hp>
 * Your current hit points as a ratio of current HP over max HP.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your current hit points as a percentage.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * <tp>
 * Your current TP as a percentage.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * <mp>
 * Your current MP as a ratio of remaining MP over max MP.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your current MP as a percentage.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your pet's current HP as a percentage.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your pet's current TP as a percentage.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Your NPC Fellow's current HP as a percentage.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Call0-21 will send out an audible signal and vibrate the controller of everyone in your party. May only be used with /p.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * NCall0-21 will send out an audible signal to everyone in your party. May only be used with /p.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * SCall0-21 will send out an audible signal to everyone in your party. May only be used with /p.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Displays your current job/subjob and their levels.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Displays your current job level (without subjob).
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Displays your current subjob level (without main job).
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * }
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Displays your current job/subjob and their levels.
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Displays your current job level (without subjob).
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * Displays your current subjob level (without main job).
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * }
 * Displays your current subjob level (without main job).
 * - style="background:#e3e6ff;" valign="top"
 * }

History

 * Nov. 19, 2007 Version Update
 * "Books" of macros added; each "Book" has 10 pallets, and there are 20 books total. 2000 individual macros total.
 * New commands: /macro, [Command/campaignmap | /campaignmap]], and  /cmap added.

Macro Guides

 * Beastmaster Macro Guide