More About Macros

Now that you are working with macros, you might need to know how to edit (or change) a macro you've already created, or how to delete a macro that you are no longer using. This tutorial will give you the easy steps for editing or deleting a macro, along with illustrated instructions that show the computer screens you'll be working with.

If you've missed the tutorial for how to create and use macros, please go to:

Are You Typing the Same Thing Again and Again? Run a Macro!

Before you begin this tutorial for editing or deleting a macro, go to the illustrated instructions:

http://www.janstips.com/Tutorials/moremacro.doc

The instructions will open in a new window for your convenience. These instructions contain several computer screen illustrations (“screen shots”), so it might take several (long) seconds for the page to open. Once the page does open, then allow a few extra seconds for all the pictures to appear.

Following along with the illustrated instructions, here's how you edit or delete a macro:

1.      In order to edit or delete an existing macro, you must first find the macro you want to change. Go to Tools, Macro, and then select Macros in the drop-down menu, as shown in the illustrated instructions.

2.      The macro window will appear. Click on the scroll bar (see the green arrow in the illustrated instructions), and scroll down until you find the beginning of the macros (which should start with Macro1, see red arrow).

3.      Ideally, you know what number macro you want to change (if you’ve kept track of the macros that you’ve created). However, it is likely that you don’t know what the macro number is, so you’ll have to look at the macros in order to find it. Click on Macro1 (see the green arrow in the illustrated instructions) and then click on Edit (red arrow).

4.      Now you can see what text is associated with which macro. In the example shown in the illustrated instructions, Macro2 is associated with the text: Respectfully, (the word Respectfully followed by a comma and then a space). Note that the text is offset by quotation marks; the quotation marks are not part of the macro text, only what is inside the quotation marks is the text that is inserted when you run the macro in your document.

5.      Assume that you want to change the macro that was created in the first tutorial, “Are You Typing the Same Thing Over and Over Again? Run a Macro!” (at: http://www.jansfreecontent.com/publish/jans_tips/Run_a_Macro.shtml). In that tutorial, a macro was created for Lady Symthe-Weathersby of Droogansvale. Continue to scroll through the macros until you find that text (see the red arrow in the illustrated instructions). In the example below, the macro number is Macro30 (see the green arrow). This macro number may not correspond to the macro number that you have, so just look for the text and then note the macro number associated with it.

6.      For the sake of this example, assume that you’ve renamed your character and she is now Lady Smythe-Weathersby of Droogansland. Position the cursor after the letter e at the end of the word Droogansvale, and backspace four times, to shorten it to Droogans.

7.      Type: land.

8.      To “save” the change, close the macro window first (click on the X, see the green arrow in the illustrated instructions), then close the screen (click on the X, red arrow).

9.      To test the macro and verify the change, insert the macro into your Word document (that is, run the macro by using the key sequence you assigned to that macro). For this example, the key assignment for the macro is ALT+7 (the ALT key plus the number 7).

10. Congratulations! You have successfully changed your macro!
11. To delete a macro, look again at the macro window. Select the macro that you want to delete by clicking on it. Click on Delete.
12. Another window will pop up, asking you to verify that you want to delete the macro. Click on Yes, if you are sure.
13. Now close the macro window by clicking on the red X in the top right corner of the macro window. You have deleted the macro.

You now know the mechanics of creating a macro, using it, editing it (changing it), and deleting it! Once you get used to using macros, you can use them for a variety of things, including complicated strings of words, letters, numbers, or symbols---and you’ll save yourself a lot of keystrokes (and never make a mistake)!

Jan K., The Proofer is a freelance copyeditor and proofreader. Visit Jan’s Portal (http://www.jansportal.com) for more information about Jan's free crafts, recipes, tutorials, other resource sites, and free content articles, as well as Jan’s freelance proofreading business services. Be sure to visit Mom's Break (http://www.momsbreak.com/) for free printable crafts and projects. © Copyright 2005 to present. All rights reserved.