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Microsoft Word 2003/2004

Working with Macros

A macro is a shortcut for performing a series of actions and is useful for automating complex or repetitive tasks. Macros are helpful if the work is being shared with someone else because it is easier to explain how to use a shortcut than it is to explain several steps. For a macro to be worthwhile, the series of actions you wish to accomplish must be consistent.

Once a macro is created, you can activate (run) it by using the Macro dialog box. Or, if you choose to assign a shortcut to the macro, you can activate it by pressing a keyboard combination, selecting a menu choice, or making a choice from a toolbar. If you have not created your macro, refer to Creating Macros for more information.

return to topRunning a Macro

When creating the macro, you were able to assign the macro to a specific access location; however, you can also use the Macros dialog box to access the macro.

It is recommended that you save your file before running the macro. Then, if the results are undesirable you can close the file without saving it and reopen the version that was saved just prior to running the macro.

Running a Macro: Dialog Box Option

  1. If insertion point is critical, set the insertion point in the appropriate location

  2. From the Tools menu, select Macro » Macros…
    OR
    On the Standard toolbar, click RUN MACRORun Macro button
    The Macros dialog box appears.
    HINT: If the Run Macro button does not appear on the Standard toolbar, follow steps 1-5 in Accessing the Record New Record: Toolbar Option.

  3. From the Macro name scroll list, select the macro you want to run
    HINT: The Description text box contains the description of the macro which you provided while creating it.

  4. Click RUN

Running a Macro: Keyboard Option

  1. If the insertion point is critical, set the insertion point in the appropriate location

  2. Press the appropriate keyboard combination

Running a Macro: Toolbar Option

  1. If the insertion point is critical, set the insertion point in the appropriate location

  2. Click the appropriate toolbar button

return to topSuspending a Macro

If you are running a macro and need to stop or pause it, you may do so.

  1. Press [Esc]

return to topDeleting a Macro

WARNING: If you delete a macro, it will be removed from the template and will not be available to any document.

NOTES:
Make sure your macro is not currently running. If it is, suspend the macro.
Deleting a macro does not remove the effects of the macro once it has been run. For example, if you ran a macro which applied special formatting to the first word of paragraphs. Deleting the macro will not delete the special formatting which has already been applied; it makes the macro unavailable for future use.

  1. From the Tools menu, select Macro » Macros…
    OR
    On the Standard toolbar, click RUN MACRORun Macro button
    The Macros dialog box appears.
    HINT: If the Run Macro button does not appear on the Standard toolbar, follow steps 1-5 in Accessing the Record New Record: Toolbar.

  2. From the Macro name scroll list, select the macro you want to delete
    NOTE: Make sure your macro is not currently running. If it is, on the Macro toolbar, stop the recording before delete it.

  3. Click DELETE
    A confirmation dialog box appears.

  4. Click YES

  5. Repeat steps 2-4 until all the unwanted macros are deleted

  6. Click CLOSE

return to topAdvanced Macros

Interactive Macros
Some macros allow you to ask the user for input. In order to do this, you need to work with the Visual Basic programming language.

Editing a Macro
The editing of macros requires some programming knowledge. Simple macros are often easier to recreate than edit

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