You can customize Word by creating a button on a toolbar for a macro or command that you find yourself using more and more often.

It is more efficient and much easier to use a toolbar button than to choose a macro from the dialog box or to choose a command from a menu, don't you agree?

You can quickly create a button for a macro before you even begin recording. Follow the steps below to learn how:

1. Choose Tools | Macro | Record New Macro or double-click REC on the status bar to begin recording a macro.
    
2. Enter the name you want to call the macro.
    
3. Click the Toolbars button to see the Customize dialog box.
    
4. Click the Toolbars tab, and make sure that the toolbar where you want to place the button has a check next to it and that it appears on the screen. If not, click to select it.
    
5. Click the Commands tab. Drag the macro name to the toolbar where you want the new button to appear. You'll see a bold insertion mark as you drag.
    
6. Click Modify Selection to see the Customize dialog box.
    
7. Select one of these options:
   
   a) Text Only (Always) shows the macro name or command on the button face.
   
   b) Text Only (In Menus) shows a square button without words on the toolbar.
   
   c) Image and Text displays the button image accompanied by words.
    
8. Click Name on the Modify Selection menu and type a nice short name for the button, rather than the long macro name that appears by default.
    
9. Choose Change Button Image to pick from several button faces, or choose Edit Button Image to create your own button face.
    
10. Close the dialog box.
     
11. Record the macro as you have already learned.

You will now see your new customized button that will run your macro when you click it.

(c) Carol Bratt, all rights reserved. Used with permission. Duplication forbidden without consent of author. Visit Carol's site to learn more tips like this one!