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: Clean Up Your Macro List.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 18, 2018)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Whenever you use the macro recorder to record a macro, Word assigns it a name of MacroN, where N is the next available macro number. Thus, your first macro recorded would be Macro1, the second would be Macro2, and so on. (Although Word lets you pick a different name when you record the macro, it is my experience that most people do not take advantage of this for quick-and-dirty macros.)
Because of this naming practice, it is real easy to "muck up" your template with macros you no longer need. Heck, you probably can't even remember what they do! The solution to this situation is to periodically clean out your macro list. I make it a habit to always delete anything that is in this default naming sequence. Doing this periodically means that your files take less space and Word takes less time to load.
To clean out the macros list, just display the Macros dialog box (press Alt+F8 or choose Tools | Macro | Macros). Individually select each macro you want to delete, and then click the Delete button. When you are done, close the dialog box.
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 (1158) 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: Clean Up Your Macro List.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
Want to give your macros a different name than they currently use? There are a couple of ways you can do the renaming, as ...
Discover MoreWord uses keyboard shortcuts for all sorts of tasks. Sometimes you may create a shortcut that messes up one of the other ...
Discover MoreDon't want a particular macro to be visible in the Macros dialog box? Once you understand the criteria that Word uses ...
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.
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:
Comments