Let's start with a simple example. Imagine that you want to insert a standard mailing address for your company into a variety of Word documents. Rather than type the text from scratch each time, you decide to create a macro that inserts the text automatically when you press the key combination Alt+A. Complete the following steps to record the macro using the Record New Macro command on the Macro submenu of the Tools menu.
If you want to follow these instructions exactly, open a blank Word document now.
Notice the Store Macro In drop-down list box, which prompts you for a place to save the macro. In Word, you can store your macro in the normal document template (Normal.dot), which will allow you to run the macro in all Word documents, or you can store your macro in the current document by selecting the document name in the Store Macro In drop-down list box. In Excel, you can store the macro in the Personal Macro Workbook (so it's available in all workbooks), or you can store it in the current workbook. In PowerPoint, you can save macros in any open presentation.
TIP
In Word, you can also create a toolbar button or menu command for the macro at this time. To do so, click the Toolbars button in the Record Macro dialog box, and specify a custom menu command or toolbar button that will run the macro.
TIP
What Are My Recording Options?The Stop Recording toolbar contains two useful toolbar buttons, Stop and Pause/Resume Recording. When you're finished recording your macro, click the Stop Recording button, and Word will stop saving your commands and close the macro. If you want to pause the recording temporarily, click the Pause Recording button, modify your document as needed, and then click Resume Recording when you're ready to continue.
Outdoor Clothing Supply 1219 Hill Garden Drive San Francisco, CA 94555 (415) 555-5555
That's all there is to it! Now that you have recorded your first macro, run it in your Word document to verify that it displays the address as you specified.