Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Automatically Running a Macro.

Automatically Running a Macro

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 2, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


You know that you can create macros within Word that allow you to automate many different functions. You may not know, however, that you can create macros that perform tasks without any intervention on your part. For instance, you can create a macro that Word will run automatically whenever you create a document; whenever you use the New command, this macro will run.

These special macros that automatically run at predefined times are identified by special names. Otherwise, there is nothing different between these macros and any other you may write. Here are the names you can give macros so that they will run automatically.

Macro Name When It Runs
AutoNew Whenever you create a new document
AutoClose Whenever you close a document
AutoExec Whenever you start Word
AutoExit Whenever you exit the program
AutoOpen Whenever you open a document

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (121) 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: Automatically Running a Macro.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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