How to Record and Run a Macro
Part 3: Running a Macro
(page 2 of 3)
Right-click the custom button you placed on the Standard toolbar to display a shortcut menu that will enable you to customize your button.
Name the button CompanyName_Date. Assigning a name to your button will also provide a screen tip that will display the name. Screentips are especially helpful for custom buttons!
For purposes of this exercise, we will keep the smiley face button. However, take note that you can change your button image from a smiley face to one of the other images provided. Or, you can click on the Edit Button Image command to open the Button Editor which is a crude mini-graphic applicaton where you can customized your button. Using the Button Editor, you could change the button from a smiley face to something like this:
The graphics are not impressive, but the "CD" (CompanyName, Date) image on the button is more meaningful than a smiley face.
The most important command on the shortcut menu is the Assign Macro command. Clicking on your button will have no effect on it until you assign a macro to it. So click on the Assign Macro command to open the Assign Macro dialog box.
Find the macro you want to assign to your button and click on it to enter it in the Macro name text box. Click OK.
Now your button should be functional and clicking on it will run your macro. Test it out.
Remember that Custom Menu Item we placed in the Insert menu? Well, to customize the menu item and assign it a macro, the procedure is identical. If you right-click the Custom Menu Item, the same shortcut menu will display.
Should you create a toolbar button or a menu item for your macro? Either one really. If you plan to use your macro frequently, you might opt for a toolbar button. If you plan to use your macro infrequently, you may want to tuck it away in one of the menus.
Keep in mind that you cannot customize a button or menu item—delete it, or assign it a macro—unless the Customize dialog box is opened. So, the first step to customize any toolbar button or menu item is to open the Customize dialog box (Tools --> Customize or Right-click on a toolbar or menu item and click Customize at the bottom of the shortcut menu).
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