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How to save 40 sets of macrosFollow

#1 Jun 11 2005 at 12:50 PM Rating: Excellent
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700 posts
Now we all know that each player gets 10 sets of macros to fill up as we need. For some people though, this can become a problem as each job really requires it's own full set of macros.

What many people do not know is that you can back up your macros to the Playonline server.

At the character select screen, pressing Ctrl + Alt + Shift + B will bring up a menu where you can save your settings file (inlcuding all of your macros) to a storage slot on the POL server.

The slots are labelled Slot A - Slot D and you can scroll through the slots by pressing the up and down arrows.

To restore a set of macros you have saved, press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R in the character select screen. You will then be able to choose which macro set to restore.

If you save all of your current macros in Storage Slot A, you can then rewrite all 10 sets in anyway you choose and back them up in Storage Slot B. Then, when ever you are logging in, you simply restore the set you plan on using that day.

By using all 4 slots (slots A-D) and considering each slot holds 10 sets of macros, you can actually save 40 unique sets.

This function is also incredibly helpful if you need to change macros on a one time basis. Simply back your macros up before logging in and when your current event is over, you can restore them back to their previous form with very little effort.

Note: It is important to point out that this may take a little time to set up, but will save you from having to constantly rewrite macros for your jobs. Also, you have to be very careful that you do not save the back up file over another set of macros you want to keep.

Hope this helps some of you.
#2 Jun 11 2005 at 1:09 PM Rating: Good
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1,270 posts
^^v Nice find, learn something new everyday.
#3 Jun 11 2005 at 1:20 PM Rating: Decent
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55 posts
Question: If they are backed up on the PlayOnline Server, can you load the macros to a computer other than your home computer (or wherever you normally play)?
#4 Jun 11 2005 at 1:22 PM Rating: Good
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504 posts
Are you sure they're on the server? I've read this before, but they said that the macros were saved in certain files on your computer when you did it.
#5 Jun 11 2005 at 1:36 PM Rating: Good
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700 posts
Macro files are saved on your computer, but the menu specifically mentions that you can back them up on the Playonline server.

And yes, the main functionality of this is to use your own macro sets on another computer. Say for example you are visiting friends and want to log into your character. Your macros can be restored from there. The macros are saved as part of your settings file on the POL server so by accessing your own account and character, you can also access your own macros.

While I have not personally tried this, I would suggest the person whose computer you are using also back up their macros just in case it writes over their's when they restore. They shouldn't, but I'm not an expert.
#6 Jun 11 2005 at 1:42 PM Rating: Good
What???? This would be COOL!!! How many ppl using PS2 and PC clients would LOVE to be able to backup and restore!

I know I would love to save my PC macros and access them on the PS2!

Rate up for giving me hope! I GOTTA try this tonight!

Wonder why no one talked about this before...?
#7 Jun 11 2005 at 1:47 PM Rating: Good
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700 posts
Well I only found out about it because I got booted out of playonline and when I tried to log back in, the back up function was already there and got stuck in a loop.

I couldn't log in because it just kept asking me again and again to back up my settings file.

I eventually managed to work the problem out, but while trying to research the problem on google, I came across the back up function. I tried it out and it worked, and it got me thinking about what you could use it for.
#8 Jun 11 2005 at 1:57 PM Rating: Decent
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4,049 posts

This DOES NOT WORK between game systems. You cannot store your macros from your PS2 and then recall them from a computer. I as well as others have tried it and it doesn't work.

Though I haven't tested it directly, I imagine it also doesn't work if you store the macros from your PC and then try to recall them on your PS2.

I believe the macros are actually stored on your system's HD. I have, however, heard that if you're on PC, you can find your macro save files and import them to another PC, but I'm not sure how that works.
#9 Jun 11 2005 at 2:09 PM Rating: Good
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700 posts
No, this is a slightly different system than that.

Yes, the macros files are saved on your computer. That is client side. You can actually find them in

C:/Program Files/Playonline/FFXI/User/(which ever folder is your character)

A separate folder will exist for each character you have.

The macros are listed as mcr.dat - mcr9.dat

You can back them up on your own harddrive anytime you like. Doing it this way gives you an absolutely unlimited number of macro sets as you can back them up constantly, and then just copy and paste before loading FFXI. You can also save them to floppy and take them with you to another computer.

The system I am speaking of saves the .dat files to the POL server. The back up system exists specifically so you can import your macros sets and export them later. This is server side.

As for transferring them between PC and PS2, I cannot attest to that. I do not see why it would not be possible, but I do not have FFXI for PS2 to try it out on. I do not know of any way to physically back up and transfer the macro files from PC to PS2. But theoretically, using a keyboard with the PS2 this backing up to the POL server SHOULD be possible.

Anyone want to give it a shot and let us all know? Gild is probably right, but heck it's worth a shot.
#10 Jun 11 2005 at 6:00 PM Rating: Decent
I get off at 830pm EST (Hour and a half from now) Ill try when I get home between PC systems and PS2 see how that all works and post back my results. =)
#11 Jun 11 2005 at 6:41 PM Rating: Decent
I tryed taking macro's from my friends char putting them on the server then getting on his char from another computer and "uploading" them and it said there was nothing there... I can't confirm the ps2 > PC but i checked into the macro files for PC and they are just a bunch of symboles followed by the actual macro, like /ma Refresh <me> and the title above it, starting with the symbols and ending with them but also with all the normal text in between..

Didn't work, it save's them on your own computer, not on any kind of server. I cannot transfer the macro's between any 2 combinations of devices Pc > pc, ps2 > pc, etc etc so No, this only works for yourself, and doesn't put your macro's on a storage server.

Edited, Sat Jun 11 21:57:02 2005 by Tatoto
#12 Jun 11 2005 at 8:46 PM Rating: Decent
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79 posts
I had played FFXI, then I reformatted my computer. When I went back on, my macros were gone, even though I was using same account so I think it's stored in your computer. >.<; I had to type it all over again.
#13 Jun 12 2005 at 9:22 AM Rating: Good
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77 posts
Posting to confirm that this does not allow you to move macros between PS2 & PC. I tried saving my macro's to Slot A and loading them on PS2, because I haven't used my PS2 since ~lv47. Slot A remained empty on my PS2 when I tried to load. My guess it that it doesn't really store these on the server; the message doesn't specifically say it stores them on the server anyways, it says the following:

Quote:
Save <charactername>'s settings file, that contains macro and map marker data, to Playonline's storage slot A?


My guess is that when it says Playonline's storage slot, it stores them in one of the data directories in \SquareEnix\PlayOnline folders, rather than the \SquareEnix\FinalFantasyXI\Users

Kinda disappointed to say the least- I had alot of good map markers on PS2 from back when I used it regularly, and I have about 0 useful macro sets on there now :/
#14 Jun 12 2005 at 12:52 PM Rating: Decent
Nope it doesn't save the settings to the server.
#15 Jun 12 2005 at 1:18 PM Rating: Decent
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395 posts
I use this method to backup my macros frequently. This DOES work going from PC to PC but not cross platforms. I use the PC version and had no problem downloading the macros from the server on my friend's PC but I could not do it to his PS2.
#16 Jun 12 2005 at 6:49 PM Rating: Decent
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709 posts
I understand that you cannot cross platform the macros, but does this thing even work for PS2 players?

I'm guessing it would save to the PS2 harddrive then if it did yes?


I'd like to get save some of my current macros so i dont have to type them in again, but since everything is filled up for vavious different jobs I don't want to erase any.

I need to make some new ones for my Bard.
#17 Jun 12 2005 at 8:51 PM Rating: Decent
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185 posts
I wasn't able to restore my macros with this method after reinstalling FFXI. It just showed empty slots.
#18 Jun 12 2005 at 9:19 PM Rating: Good
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4,209 posts
*pounds her head against the wall and screams*

People CONSTANTLY say this and I have NO IDEA why.

Doing this DOES NOT save your macro's and map points to the POL/FFXI servers! It just saves them to a different location on your HDD.

Its purpose was so that PS2 users could "backup" their macro's and reinstall JUST FFXI for whatever reason. The macro's are saved in the POL folder on YOUR HDD.

As for PC to PC copy, yes. You can copy the folder over from one computer to another. But PS2 to PC or PS2 to PS2 CAN NOT be done.

Edited, Sun Jun 12 22:22:21 2005 by Alrefie
#19 Jun 12 2005 at 9:21 PM Rating: Good
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388 posts
Did you save them before reinstall? If you did, then I would take this as pretty solid proof that it's stored client side and not server side.
I don't, however, see a problem with storing it server side. The server load per person would be maybe 1mb MAX for 40 sets of macros. My current 10 macro sets take up only 74.4kb
Me thinks I'll drop this in the suggestion box.
#20 Jun 13 2005 at 12:58 AM Rating: Good
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7,106 posts
Quote:
Doing this DOES NOT save your macro's and map points to the POL/FFXI servers! It just saves them to a different location on your HDD.

This is correct. This function does not put anything on the server.
#21 Jun 13 2005 at 1:26 AM Rating: Good
Taodyn wrote:
Now we all know that each player gets 10 sets of macros to fill up as we need. For some people though, this can become a problem as each job really requires it's own full set of macros.

What many people do not know is that you can back up your macros to the Playonline server.

There also exists a neat program (for pc) that allows you to edit and store macro sets. It can be found at

http://www.codebeast.net/page3.html

Works great.
#22 Jun 13 2005 at 6:05 AM Rating: Decent
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185 posts
genesite wrote:
Did you save them before reinstall?


I did, and made sure the first slot had em saved. I reinstalled both FFXI and PlayOnline viewer and the macros were gone after that.
#23 Jun 13 2005 at 6:57 AM Rating: Good
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2,878 posts
The slots are on your local PC not the server, please don't spread disinformation thanks.
#24 Jun 13 2005 at 7:12 AM Rating: Decent
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700 posts
I apologize, but I did not intend to spread misinformation. The websites from which I obtained the information on this function (including a thread on Alla), stated that it saved them to the server.

I have also had several reports from LS mates that this did work computer to computer and after an install. That I can't explain.

I'll do some more research and see what I can come up with.

Regardless though, my initial purpose for writing this thread (ie. having multiple sets of macros on one computer) is still valid. You can save multiple different sets and restore them at a later date. It was another poster who presented this idea. I simply explained what I had been told and theorized on how it SHOULD work.

Either way, at least we have established that it does not work.

This is the thread where I found part of the information.
#25 Jun 13 2005 at 7:24 AM Rating: Good
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700 posts
Okay, with a little more work (and an actual idea what to look for) I found another thread that explains it.

Everyone that said it saves to your Harddrive and not the server, congratulations, you are indeed correct. It will remain after uninstalls and reinstalls, but cannot be transferred from system to system.

Quote:
You can back up all of your macros and map markers in Play online. You?re given four sets of macros/markers to store, and you can restore them at any time. So, if you like playing a mage sometimes and a melee sometimes, you could have two separate sets of macros (one that is all melee-oriented and one for all your mage spells). To use this feature, when you are at the ?select a character? screen, highlight your character and press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+B (for Backup), and it will ask if you want to save your macros. Press up or down to switch between the four slots available. To restore, press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+R (for Restore) and choose a slot. Not only does this save your macros and map markers, but also any customised settings you?re using (such as window backgrounds, font colours, etc.)
It saves information to POL. So you can't transfer information from one system to the other. (ie. PC to PS2) Trust me, I desparately tried to find a way.

You get 4 slots per account (not character). The backups are also, unfortunately, saved to your hard drive, and not the POL server.
The location of these backup files on Windows is:
..\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\pub\home01\open\ContentsData\FinalFantasyXI
The names of the files (all 4) are:
FFXI0.DAT
FFXI1.DAT
FFXI2.DAT
FFXI3.DAT


I don't know why back ups saved to your own system would only have 4 slots, but that's neither here nor there. We've established that it has multiple helpful functions.

1) Can back up macros in case you need more than 10 sets

2) Can back up macros in case you need to reinstall

3) Can copy these 4 .dat files and transfer them from one PC to another via disk.

The whole thread can be found here and contains some really great tips for the game. I suggest reading the whole thing, but the tip quoted is the very last.

Edit: the back up working after reinstall seems to be hit or miss as I have read several reports of people having it work great and others not. Perhaps it has to do with uninstalling POL, itself, or just reinstalling FFXI. No idea.

Edited, Mon Jun 13 08:27:34 2005 by Taodyn
#26REDACTED, Posted: Jun 28 2008 at 8:26 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) Just to burst everyones bubble. I used shift+ctrl+alt+B on my old pc then loaded the game on a NEW pc, logged in and hit shift+ctrl+alt+R and all my macros were there. Then I went to a friends house and logged and hit shift+ctrl+alt+R and all my macros where there to. Surprise! If you read the update info back when they added this feature. 1 slot for the server, 4 slots for the individule machine. The server slot is dated and says Server, A-D are for the local machine. The server slot is is transferable from machine to machine. A-D are lost if you reinstall POL.
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