Word 2008 and Macros

[guanzhi]

Since Word 2008 does not support recording macros in the way that has
be possible in previous versions (and is still possible in most
mainstream word processors), what do you do if you want to automate a
process and are not familiar with AppleScript?

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

A good starting point would be asking here for help. What do you need to do?

Basically, you learn to deal with AppleScript and Automator, but I'm
finding a number of people think they need scripts for things that don't
require scripts at all. Also, it's possible that the built-in Automator
actions will help (not included with Home and Student).

 

[guanzhi]

A good starting point would be asking here for help. What do you need to do?

Basically, you learn to deal with AppleScript and Automator, but I'm
finding a number of people think they need scripts for things that don't
require scripts at all. Also, it's possible that the built-in Automator
actions will help (not included with Home and Student).

I assume when you say the built in Automator actions, you mean the
actions that are listed under Macros in the Tools menu. I checked
these
but none fit my requirements. In any case even if they did, I did not
see
any way to assign them to a keystroke combination as a shortcut.

At this time there are two things I need to do:

One is that I use Paste Special for one thing and one thing only: to
paste unformatted text. However, although I was able to assign a
shortcut to Paste Special, it still requires a mouse click or a down
arrow and a Return--an additional two keystrokes. Now this may
not sound like very much, but when it has to be done several
hundred times a day, the extra keystrokes add up. I would like to
be able to automatically paste unformatted text with a single key
combination.

The second is that I only use two or three English fonts and one
Japanese font and specific point sizes with each. In Word 2004,
I was able to create macros for these and assign them to
shortcuts.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

I assume when you say the built in Automator actions, you mean the
actions that are listed under Macros in the Tools menu.

Nope, I don't. See the basic tutorial here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304759
Office 2008 (except Home and Student version) comes with 70+ automator
actions for the various programs--look under the script menu in Word and
you'll see Sample Automator Workflows to give you a sense of what they
can do.

One is that I use Paste Special for one thing and one thing only: to
paste unformatted text.

Common request, so that's been covered--see here for a few different
options, and a link to the keyboard shortcut instructions:
http://word.mvps.org/Mac/scripts/PasteTextAS.html

The second is that I only use two or three English fonts and one
Japanese font and specific point sizes with each. In Word 2004,
I was able to create macros for these and assign them to
shortcuts.

You don't need a macro/script to do that. Create various Paragraph or
Character styles that set the font and size. You can assign shortcuts to
a style. If you don't understand how styles would help, start here, then
come back with questions.
http://shaunakelly.com/word/styles/TipsOnStyles.html

Daiya

 

[guanzhi]

Nope, I don't. See the basic tutorial here:http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304759
Office 2008 (except Home and Student version) comes with 70+ automator
actions for the various programs--look under the script menu in Word and
you'll see Sample Automator Workflows to give you a sense of what they
can do.

Unfortunately, as a university professor, I qualified for the student
and
faculty version and only have eight workflows. Are the others
available
anywhere?

Common request, so that's been covered--see here for a few different
options, and a link to the keyboard shortcut instructions:http://word.mvps.org/Mac/scripts/PasteTextAS.html

This was just what I needed.

You don't need a macro/script to do that. Create various Paragraph or
Character styles that set the font and size. You can assign shortcuts to
a style.

OK. I'll try that.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Unfortunately, as a university professor, I qualified for the student
and
faculty version and only have eight workflows. Are the others
available
anywhere?

Actions are assembled into workflows, so 8 sample workflows is the right
number. Actually, I think there are 97 actions combined for all four
programs--launch Automator, select a program, and you'll get a sense of
the options that you can put together into workflows. Word has about 30
actions. I think you must have a university-discounted license for the
standard version, rather than the retail Home and Student version, if
you have workflows.

I'm not finding them exceedingly useful for what I need to do, except
for the one to save and repeat a Find and Replace. Wait, I see one
"Apply Font Format Settings to Word Documents" which would probably
replace your "Apply X Font and Y Size" macro, except that using a style
is a better idea anyhow, and probably faster.

Daiya