WD2000: Auto Macros in Word

ID: Q211659

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

Word reserves special names for macros that you can create to alter the way Word behaves. These are called auto macros. The auto macros in Microsoft Word are:

AutoExec
AutoNew
AutoOpen
AutoClose
AutoExit


MORE INFORMATION

Word recognizes a macro whose name begins with Auto as a macro that runs automatically when the situation to which it applies arises. You supply the actual steps for the auto macro by either writing or recording the macro.

You can prevent an auto macro from running by holding down the SHIFT key when you perform the action that triggers the macro.

NOTE: There are also a variety of startup switches that can be used with Word.

For more information about startup switches, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type "Control what happens when you start Microsoft Word" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

Description of Auto Macros

AutoExec

The AutoExec macro runs when you start Word. This macro makes it easy to instruct Word to automatically make adjustments when you start Word. For example, you can create an AutoExec macro that automatically changes the default directory when you open Word for Windows.

The AutoExec macro runs when Word starts if the AutoExec macro was saved as part of the default (Normal.dot) template or if it was saved as part of a global add-in.

To prevent AutoExec from running, type
winword /m
into a command prompt to start Word.

AutoNew

The AutoNew macro runs after you create a new document based on a current template. For example, an AutoNew macro can update all the fields in a document, attached to a template of choice, and then run when you open a new document based on that template. The AutoNew macro runs when New is selected on the File menu in Word if the AutoNew macro was saved as part of the current template.

The AutoNew macro does not run if the AutoNew macro was saved as part of a global add-in. The AutoNew macro is available when you select Macros on the Tools menu.

AutoOpen

The AutoOpen macro runs after you open a file with the FileOpen or FileFind command, or from the list of the last four documents that were opened (see the bottom of the File menu).

The AutoOpen macro runs when Open is selected on the File menu, and the AutoOpen macro was saved as part of the current template.

The AutoOpen macro does not run if the AutoOpen macro was saved as part of a global add-in. The AutoOpen macro is available when Macros is selected on the Tools menu.

AutoClose

The AutoClose macro runs when you close a document. The AutoClose macro runs when Close is selected on the File menu, and the AutoClose macro was saved as part of the current template.

The AutoClose macro does not run if the macro was saved as part of a global add-in. The AutoClose macro is available when Macros is selected on the Tools menu.

AutoExit

The AutoExit macro runs when you quit Word.

The AutoExit macro runs when Word quits if the macro was saved as part of the default (Normal.dot) template or when saved as part of a template that has been added into the Startup folder or added as a global template.


REFERENCES

For more information about global add-ins, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type "global add-ins" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

Additional query words: filefind 


Keywords          : kbdta kbtemplate wd2000 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: July 16, 1999