What are macros in microsoft word

In Word, you can automate frequently used tasks by creating and running macros. A macro is a series of commands and instructions that you group together as a single command to accomplish a task automatically.

How do you use macros in Word?

When you have a repetitive series of tasks to perform, you can record those tasks as a macro.

1. Place the cursor where you want to start recording the macro.
2. Click the Record Macro button.
3. Give the macro a name.
4. Click the Keyboard button.
5. Press the keyboard shortcut keys that you want to use.
6. Click Assign.
7. Click Close.

What is a macro and how is it used?

A macro is used to automate a task that you perform repeatedly or on a regular basis. It is a series of commands and actions that can be stored and run whenever you need to perform the task. You can record or build a macro and then run it to automatically repeat that series of steps or actions.

Why we use macro in MS Word?

Macros – a little known tool in Microsoft Word – allow you to automate frequently used formatting settings. Macros are especially useful when you find yourself making the same formatting changes over and over again to multiple documents.

Where do I find macros in Word?

Here’s how you can find macros and VBA modules in your document: In Word or Excel, click View > Macro > View Macros. In PowerPoint, click View > Macro.

How do you write macros?

Record a macro
On the Developer tab, click Record Macro. Optionally, enter a name for the macro in the Macro name box, enter a shortcut key in the Shortcut key box, and a description in the Description box, and then click OK to start recording.

Can macros have numbers?

Macro names should only consist of alphanumeric characters and underscores, i.e. ‘a-z’ , ‘A-Z’ , ‘0-9‘ , and ‘_’ , and the first character should not be a digit.

Why macros are useful?

Macros automate common and repetitive keystrokes that you use in Excel to create and edit spreadsheets. By reducing the number of keystrokes required to perform common commands, macros speed up your production and reduce the time you have to spend staring at an electronic spreadsheet each day.

What is macros in MS Word PDF?

Macros enable you to automate routine operations and tasks in Microsoft programs. A macro is a small program that records the actions you take to complete a specific task, for example, adjusting the page layout to a specific format. You then run the macro to apply all of the recorded actions in just a single click!

What is macros and how do you count them?

Macros—short for macronutrients—include carbs, proteins, and fats. Simply put, counting macros involves tallying up how many grams of each macronutrient type you consume each day, aiming for specific targets. The method is a key component of eating plans like the keto diet.

Can macro names contain spaces?

Macro names must begin with a letter and cannot contain spaces, symbols, or punctuation marks. After the first letter, you can use more letters, numbers, or the underscore character, but the maximum length is 80 characters.

How do I remove macros from a Word document?

To delete a macro, follow these steps:

1. Press Alt+F8. Word displays the Macros dialog box.
2. From the list of macros, select the macro you want to delete. The Delete button becomes available.
3. Click on Delete.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each macro you want to delete.
5. Click on Close when finished.

Why do my Word macros keep disappearing?

That could happen if the original file was moved or renamed, so that there was no file with that exact name, and then Word was started. If you have a backup of that file or of the whole drive, restore it to replace the current copy.

What is a macro in Word 2010?

A macro is a teensy program you can write in Word 2010 that automates things, such as repetitive keystrokes or tasks. You start making a macro by recording it.

What is an example of a macro?

Macro is defined as something that covers a large amount, or is large in size. An example of macro is the study of the key driving aspects of an economy; macro economics. An example of macro is a very close up photograph of an ant; a macro photograph.

How do I make a macro on my computer?

How do I create macros?

1. Using the mouse that you want to configure, start Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center.
2. In the list under the button that you want to reassign, select Macro.
3. Click Create a new Macro.
4. In the Name box, type the name of the new macro.
5. Click in Editor, and enter your macro.

What are the steps to run a macro?

Right-click the macro in the Navigation Pane, and then click Design View. On the Design tab, in the Tools group, click Single Step. Click Run. If the macro is a new or edited macro, you will be prompted to save the macro before you can run it.

What is macro in C Tutorialspoint?

CServer Side ProgrammingProgramming. Macro substitution is a mechanism that provides a string substitution. It can be achieved through “#deifne”. It is used to replace the first part with the second part of the macro definition, before the execution of the program.

Can macros contain viruses?

A macro virus is a computer virus written in the same macro language as the software it infects — common victims include Microsoft Excel and Word. Because they target software rather than systems, macro viruses can infect any operating system. So a macro virus can infect a PC or Mac.

How long can macro names be?

The maximum length of a macro name is hard-coded at 20 characters and cannot be changed with compile-time definitions. If you declare a macro name that (not counting the curly braces) is longer than 20 characters, the following error will be printed and the excess characters will become the value of an undefined name.

What are the disadvantages of macros?

The disadvantage of the macro is the size of the program. The reason is, the pre-processor will replace all the macros in the program by its real definition prior to the compilation process of the program.

A macro is a series of commands that is recorded so it can be played back (executed) at a later time. Macros are great for reducing the amount of work you have to do on a series of steps that you perform frequently. Here’s how to create and test a macro in Microsoft Word.

Why Use a Macro

With a macro, you can get the same results by clicking a command instead of going through all the steps. Some ways to use macros to increase your productivity include:

• Insert your company logo and name in a particular typeface.
• Insert a table that you need to create regularly.
• Format a document with certain characteristics, such as page numbering and double-spaced paragraphs.

Creating and using macros is a learned skill but the resulting efficiency is well worth the effort.

Create a Macro

There are more than 950 commands in Word, most of which are on menus and toolbars and have shortcut keys assigned to them. Some of these commands, however, are not assigned to menus or toolbars by default. Before you create your own Word macro, check to see if it exists and can be assigned to a toolbar.

To see the commands available in Word, follow these steps:

1. Select the View tab.

2. Choose Macros.

3. Select View Macros.

   Or, press the Alt+F8 shortcut key to access the Macros dialog box.

4. Select the Macros in drop-down arrow and choose Word Commands.

5. In the alphabetical list of command names, highlight a name to display a description of the command at the bottom of the Macros dialog box under the Description label.

If the command you wish to create exists, don’t duplicate it with your own Word macro. If it doesn’t exist, proceed with creating your Word macro.

Plan for Effective Word Macros

The most important step in creating effective Word macros is careful planning. This planning includes having a clear idea of what you want the Word macro to perform, how it will make your future work easier, and the circumstances under which you intend to use it.

Once you have these things in mind, plan the actual steps. This is important because the recorder will remember everything you do and include it in the macro. For example, if you type something and then delete it, every time you run that macro, Word will make the same entry and then delete it, making a sloppy and inefficient macro.

When you plan your macros, here are some things to consider:

• Plan the commands and the order in which you want the macro to perform the commands.
• Know the shortcut keys for the commands you plan to use. This is particularly important for navigation as you aren’t able to use the mouse for navigation within the document area when you run the recorder. Further, you will create a leaner macro if you use a shortcut key rather than the arrow keys.
• Plan for messages that Word might display and that will stop the macro.
• Use as few steps as possible to keep the macro efficient.
• Do at least one test run before you start recording.

After you’ve planned your Word macro and done a run-through, you’re ready to record it. If you’ve planned your macro carefully, recording it for later use will be the easiest part of the process. The only difference between creating a macro and working on the document is that you have to press a few extra buttons and make a couple of selections in dialog boxes.

Record the Macro

When you start recording a macro, the mouse pointer has a small icon that looks like a cassette tape beside it, indicating that Word is recording your actions. You can then follow the steps you laid out in the planning stage. Once you are done, press the Stop button (it is the blue square on the left). Once you press the Stop button, your Word macro is ready to use.

Here’s how to record a macro.

1. Go to the View tab, select Macros, then choose Record Macro to open the Record Macro dialog box.

2. In the Macro Name text box, type a unique name.

   Names can contain up to 80 letters or numbers (no symbols or spaces) and must begin with a letter. The name should be unique so that you can determine what it does without having to refer to the description.

3. In the Description text box, enter a description of the actions the macro performs.

4. Select whether you want the macro to be available in all documents or only in the current document. If you choose to limit the availability of the command, highlight the document name in the Store Macro in drop-down menu.

   By default, Word makes the macro available to all your documents, and you will probably find that this makes the most sense.

5. When you have entered the information for the macro, select OK. The Record Macro Toolbar appears in the upper-left corner of the screen.

Test the Macro

The purpose behind creating macros in Word is to speed up your work by putting repetitive tasks and complex sequences of commands at your fingertips. Make sure your macro runs as intended by testing the macro.

1. To run the macro, press the Alt+F8 shortcut key to display the Macros dialog box.

2. Highlight the macro in the list, then select Run.

Create Keyboard Shortcuts for Macros

If you created several macros, searching through the Macros dialog box takes time. If you assign macros a shortcut key, you can bypass the dialog box and access your macro directly from the keyboard in the same way you use shortcut keys to access other commands in Word.

1. Select File, then choose Options.

2. In the Word Options dialog box, go to the left pane and select Custom Ribbon.

3. Select Customize.

4. In the Categories list, scroll down to Macros and select the macro for which you want to create a new shortcut.

   If the macro currently has a shortcut key assigned to it, the shortcut will appear in the box below the Current keys label.

5. If no shortcut key has been assigned to the macro, or if you want to create a second shortcut key for the macro, select the Press new shortcut key text box.

6. Enter the shortcut key you want to use to access your macro.

   If the shortcut key is assigned to a command, a message says Currently assigned to followed by the name of the command. Either reassign the shortcut key by continuing, or select a new shortcut key.

7. Select the Save changes in drop-down arrow and choose Normal to apply the change to all documents created in Word.

   To use the shortcut key only in the current document, select the document name from the list.

8. Select Assign.

9. Select Close to save your changes.

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When using Microsoft Word, you may feel the need to repeat a specific action multiple times. This may involve reusing preset text or inserting specific text with intricate formatting. It can be a chore, and you may be wishing for an easier way to do it. Thankfully, there is one! By making use of Word’s macros, you can automate repetitive actions and make your life simpler.

What Are Macros?

So, what are macros? The best way to think of macros is as a series of instructions. You set out a series of steps that you want Word to automate, then tell Word to perform those steps whenever you like. This makes automation very easy, and can save a lot of time and effort. The easiest way to create a macro is to allow Word to record your actions, then physically perform your desired actions within the document. Once recorded, you can tell Word to repeat what you did at any time.

Making a Macro

So now that we know what they do, let’s learn to make a macro in Microsoft Word! In this example we’ll be creating a macro that automatically creates a table. This might be a useful feature if you occasionally see yourself needing to create a new table without manually making a new one or copy-pasting an existing table.

First, we need to tell Microsoft Word how to make our table. To do this, we click on “View,” then “Macros,” then “Record Macro.”

We name our macro here. For this example we’ll call it “CreateTable.”

Underneath the naming box are two buttons, “Button” and “Keyboard.” This is where you pick if you want to activate your macro via a button within Word or by pressing a hotkey on your keyboard.

Selecting the Button Option

If you select “Button,” you’ll be taken to a new popup window. It may look confusing at first, but it’s just Word allowing you to add the button to the Quick Access bar. This is where we want our button, so we’ll select the macro and click “Add >>” to add it to the list on the right.

With the macro still selected, click “Modify…” at the bottom of the list.

Here you can choose what icon your button uses. Pick something that suits your macro, then OK out of all windows.

Selecting the Keyboard Option

If you select the keyboard option, you can define which hotkey to assign the macro to. It’s compatible with quite a few combinations, such as Ctrl + [Key] and Ctrl + Shift + [Key], so pick out a hotkey that suits you. Word will let you know if anything is currently assigned to that hotkey so you don’t interfere with existing shortcuts. Once you’ve found the perfect key combination, click “Assign.”

Recording the Macro

Now that you have set up the method of activation, Microsoft Word will begin recording your actions. While it’s recording, any actions you now perform in the document will be remembered in the macro. In this example, we create our table and fill it out with the essential fields. Because our actions are being recorded, we should be careful and not make any mistakes!

Once the table is done, we click “View,” then “Macro” again, and then click “Stop recording.”

Now that our macro is recorded, we can make this table at any time we like. If we assigned it to a hotkey on the keyboard, we can press those keys to insert a table. Likewise, if we made a button for it, we can find that button in the Quick Access bar.

Regardless of which method we selected for the macro, our table is replicated when we activate it. Now we can recreate our base table with little hassle!

Deleting a Macro

When your macro has outlived its use, you can get rid of them by simply clicking “View,” then “Macros,” then “View Macros.”

Select the macro you don’t want anymore, then click “Delete.”

Macro Safety

While macros can be used to make life easier, they can also have nefarious intents! Never run macros that have come from an untrusted source or download a Word document attached to a suspicious email. “Macro viruses” can be a real problem, so make sure you stay safe when using them.

Macros Made Easy

When you need to perform repetitive actions in Word, a macro can come in great use. Now you know how to make a keyboard or button macro, how to record it, and how to use it once it’s made.

Do you see yourself using macros a lot? Do you already? Let us know below.