Assigning a Macro to a Keyboard Combination

Word allows you to assign macros or commands to specific key combinations. These key combinations are referred to as shortcut keys, and when used they result in the macro or command being executed.

When you first create a macro by recording it, Word gives you to opportunity to assign the macro to a specific key combination. If you later want to change the key combination, you can follow these steps if you are using Word 2007:

1. Click the Office button, then click Word Options. Word displays the Word Options dialog box.
2. Make sure the Customize option is selected at the left side of the dialog box.
3. Click the Customize button at the bottom of the dialog box, just to the right of the words "Keyboard Shortcuts." Word displays the Customize Keyboard dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
4. In the Categories list, choose Macros.
5. In the Macros list, select the macro you want assigned to the shortcut key.
6. Click once in the Press New Shortcut Key box so that the insertion point appears there.
7. Press a keyboard shortcut you want to use to run the macro. (You can tell if the shortcut is in use because when you press it, you can see in the dialog box if the shortcut is used by a different command.)
8. Click Assign. The shortcut is now assigned to the command.
9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 for each change you want to make.
10. Close all the open dialog boxes.

If you are using an older version of Word you should follow these steps instead:

1. Select Customize from the Tools menu. You will see the Customize dialog box.
2. Click on the Keyboard button. Word displays the Customize Keyboard dialog box.
3. Scroll through the Categories list and select the Macros category. The list at the right side of the dialog box changes to show the currently available macros.
4. In the Macros list, select the macro you want assigned to the shortcut key.
5. With the insertion pointer in the Press New Shortcut Key box, press the shortcut key you want to use. For instance, if you want to use Ctrl+Alt+J, press that.
6. Just below the Press New Shortcut Key box you can see whether the shortcut key is already assigned to a different function.
7. Click on Assign.
8. Repeat steps 4 through 7 for each change you want to make.
9. Close all the open dialog boxes.