Creating a Letterhead or Memo Macro Toolbar Button
by Shawn C Lander & Troy Clark on September 3, 2002
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Some of you have been interested in having a letterhead and memo
macro button on your Microsoft Word toolbar. Below are the instructions for
performing such a task. Each of these steps have an associated screen capture
movie that illustrates how to perform the task. Take what you are shown here and
run with it. These same principles can be applied to creating macros and buttons
that accomplish more complicated and customized tasks.
Click on the reel to the left of each step to view an example movie.
Maximize the video player to get the best view of the example movie.
STEP ONE: Copy your letterhead and memo
document template files from your H: drive to C:DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS
[YOURUSERNAME]APPLICATION DATAMICROSOFTTEMPLATES
STEP TWO: Within Microsoft Word, select RECORD NEW MACRO from the
TOOLS->MACROS menu, name the macro letterhead and click the TOOLBAR
button in the ASSIGN MEMO TO section. When the CUSTOMIZE dialog box appears,
click and drag the macro icon on the right to the toolbar. You may need to
ensure you are on the COMMANDS tab and the MACROS category to view the macro
you are creating.
STEP THREE: At this point you have completed the setup of the macro
and are ready to record it (you should see a small popup or toolbar that
has a cassette tape stop and pause button which indicates your actions
are being recorded into a macro). Create a NEW DOCUMENT FROM TEMPLATE using
GENERAL TEMPLATES. When the TEMPLATES dialog appears select the
letterhead document template. After the new document is opened stop
recording the macro by choosing STOP RECORDING from the TOOLS -> MACROS menu.
That's it; you now have a shortcut on your toolbar that creates a new document
based on your letterhead template. Repeat the process for the memo
document template. Now, in addition to having the letterhead and
memo shortcuts on the Microsoft ShortCut Bar and desktop you have buttons
on your Word toolbar.
For those who really enjoy a challenge! To rename the newly created
toolbar button follow these steps:
Click on the down arrow on the far right of the toolbar that contains
your letterhead or memo macro buttons. This arrow allows you
to change TOOLBAR OPTIONS.
Select ADD OR REMOVE BUTTONS and then CUSTOMIZE from the popup menu. A
CUSTOMIZE dialog box will appear. While this dialog is open you can make
changes to the toolbars (position, picture, and name of buttons, customized
text, additional toolbars, etc).
Right-click the macro button you want to modify. In the popup menu that
is displayed type in the new NAME.
Complete the customization by clicking CLOSE on the CUSTOMIZE dialog.
For those who can't get enough! If you'd like to change the
icon and the way it appears follow these steps:
With the CUSTOMIZE dialog box open, right-click the button you want to
modify (refer to the previous item to display the CUSTOMIZE dialog).
From the popup menu that is displayed, select CHANGE BUTTON ICON and choose
the image you want.
From the popup menu that is displayed you can also select EDIT BUTTON
IMAGE to change the image (i.e. change the yellow color to blue).
From the popup menu that is displayed choose DEFAULT STYLE to display
only the image (the name of the macro will be hidden from view).
