ne's manual

4.6.3: Macro

If the optional filename argument is not specified, the file requester is opened, and you are prompted to select a file (you can inhibit the file requester opening by using the NoFileReq command; see NoFileReq).

If you escape from the file requester, you can input the file name on the command line.

Note that macros whose name does not conflict with a command can be called without using Macro. Whenever ne is required to perform a command it cannot find in its internal tables, it will look for a macro named as the command. If also this search fails, ne looks in `$HOME/.ne' for a file named as the command.

first time a macro is executed it is cached into a hash table and is kept forever in memory (unless the UnloadMacros command is issued; see UnloadMacros). The next time a macro with the same file name is invoked, the cached list is searched for it before accessing the file using a case insensitive string comparison. That is, if you call `~/foobar/macro', a subsequent call for `/usr/MACRO' or just `MaCrO' will use the cached version. Note that the cache table is global to ne.