Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 1, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
If you are like me, when you write you make notes to yourself so you don't forget parts of the manuscript that may need more work or so you can jog your memory. Hidden text is great for this purpose, because you can hide your notes at any time so that others don't see them on the screen or in a printout.
I found that I added enough notes that I wanted to create a macro that would insert a paragraph prior to the one in which I am working, and then format the paragraph as hidden text so I can enter my note. The result is the AddNote macro, which creates a red-text hidden paragraph:
Sub AddNote() Selection.MoveDown Unit:=wdParagraph, Count:=1 Selection.MoveUp Unit:=wdParagraph, Count:=1 Selection.TypeParagraph Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 Selection.Style = ActiveDocument.Styles("Normal") With Selection.Font .Name = "Arial" .Size = 11 .Bold = True .Italic = False .Underline = wdUnderlineNone .StrikeThrough = False .DoubleStrikeThrough = False .Outline = False .Emboss = False .Shadow = False .Hidden = True .SmallCaps = False .AllCaps = False .ColorIndex = wdRed .Engrave = False .Superscript = False .Subscript = False .Spacing = 0 .Scaling = 100 .Position = 0 .Kerning = 0 .Animation = wdAnimationNone End With Selection.TypeText Text:="Note: " End Sub
I assign this macro to a toolbar button and then it is available with just a click.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (30) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Talking to Yourself.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
We've all experienced the problem: You start selecting a large block of text using the mouse, and before you know it the ...
Discover MoreNeed an em dash to be "sticky" on both ends of the dash? Word doesn't provide such formatting, but there are a few ...
Discover MoreWant a quick and easy way to move text (or other document elements) from one place to another in your document? Check out ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments