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STEP

1First, decide what you want yourmacro to carry out. For thisexample, well create a macro

that changes the text font to Cambria, thefont size to 12, bolds it up, underlines it,formats it with a bullet point and aligns itcentrally. To begin creating your macro inOffice 2010 and 2013, click the View tab 1on the Ribbon, the Macros dropdownmenu 2 on the far right, then RecordMacro 3 . In Office 2007, click Tools at thetop, move your cursor to Macro, thenclick Record (New) Macro.

STEP

2In the Record Macro box,name your macro (it cannotcontain spaces) 1 and type a

description 2 . If you dont name it, itwill be called Macro1. Ensure the Storemacro in dropdownmenu is set to AllDocuments (Normal.dotm) 3 , whichmeans itll work with all yourWord files.If you want the macro to only work withyour current document, then click thedropdownmenu and select the nameof that document.

Microsoft Office has manylittle-known, time-savingshortcuts, but the best is undoubtedlymacros.These let you record a seriesof actions for example, applyingformatting changes to text orinserting text you type repeatedly

and then save them as a singlecommand. You can then apply thismacro by using a keyboard shortcutor by clicking an icon you created torepresent it on your Quick AccessToolbar. Well demonstrate this inWord, but you can also do it in Excel.

Create your ownOffice shortcutsWhat you need:Microsoft Word or Excel (2007, 2010 or 2013)Time required: 35minutes

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STEP

4Your cursor will now change to a small cassette icon 1(indicating your macro is being recorded). Click theHome tab 2 , the font dropdownmenu and change it

to Cambria. Next, change the font size to 12, click the bold andunderline buttons, then the bullet point and central align 3buttons (in the Paragraph section). You can stop/pause/resumeyour recording by clicking the View tab, the Macros dropdownmenu, then clicking either Stop Recording, Pause Recording orResume Recording.

STEP

5Now, whenever you want to apply thesechanges to any text in one go, highlight thetext, click the Macros dropdownmenu,

ViewMacros, click your macro 1 , then Run 2 .Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut you createdin Step 3 (in our case, Alt+E). If you want to recreateyour macro, click Delete 3 and repeat the entireprocess. STEP

6Well now show you how to create a macro that inserts text youuse regularly, and a Quick Access Toolbar icon, which you canthen click whenever you want to insert this text. First, click the

Macros dropdownmenu, then Record Macro, give it a name 1 anddescription 2 , then click OK 3 to begin recording.

STEP

3First, create a keyboard shortcut for yournewmacro. Click the Keyboard buttonbelow the Assign macro to field, then

click the Press new shortcut key field and press akey combination using the Alt key and a letter onyour keyboard 1 . If you see [unassigned] 2 besideCurrently assigned to, it means you can use thatkey combination. Click Assign 3 to do that andstart recording your macro.

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374 17 February 2015

Create your own Office shortcuts

STEP

8Youll now see a Microsoft Visual Basicfor Applications (VBA) window, whichcontains everything you recorded in your

Macro as code. Edit the Macros text in the text field 1 , and whenyouve finished, click File 2 , Save Normal 3 , then close the VBAwindow.Now apply the macro again to see your edited text.

STEP

9To add a Quick Access Toolbar icon for the macro you created,click the Customize Quick Access Toolbar icon 1 , then MoreCommands. Next, click the Choose commands from dropdown

menu 2 and select macros. You should see both macros youve created sofar. Click the Macro you want an icon for 3 , then click the Add button.Youll see it in the column on the right, indicating its now part of yourQuick Access Toolbar.

STEP

10You can change this macrosdefault icon. Click the Modifybutton 1 , select an icon, type a

display name 2 , click OK 3 (in theModify Button box) and OK again (in theWord Options window).The icon willnow appear at the top of your QuickAccess Toolbar (at the top left of Word).

STEP

7Now click the Home tab, selectthe font format (style, size and soon) and type your text. Next,

click the View tab, the Macros dropdownmenu, then Stop Recording. To edit themacro, click the Macros dropdownmenu,then ViewMacros, select the macrowhose text you want to edit 1 , then clickthe Edit button 2 .

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