The macro recorder in Word acts like a tape recorder. It records your deliberate keystrokes and mouse button clicks by translating them into Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (Visual Basic for Applications (VBA): A macro-language version of Microsoft Visual Basic that is used to program Microsoft Windows–based applications and is included with several Microsoft programs.) code. When you record a macro, you can use the mouse to click commands and options, but not to select text. You must use the keyboard to record these actions. For example, you can use F8 to select text and press END to move the cursor to the end of the line.

You can use the Visual Basic Editor to create very flexible, powerful macros that include Visual Basic instructions that you cannot record.

When you use the Visual Basic Editor, you can get additional assistance, such as reference information about objects (object: A table, chart, graphic, equation, or other form of information. Objects created in one application, for example spreadsheets, and linked or embedded in another application are OLE objects.) and properties (property: A named attribute of a control, a field, or an object that you set to define one of the object's characteristics (such as size, color, or screen location) or an aspect of its behavior (such as whether the object is hidden).).

You can store macros in templates (template: A file or files that contain the structure and tools for shaping such elements as the style and page layout of finished files. For example, Word templates can shape a single document, and FrontPage templates can shape an entire Web site.) or in documents. By default, Word stores macros in the Normal template (Normal template: A global template that you can use for any type of document. You can modify this template to change the default document formatting or content.) so that they're available for use with every Word document. If you plan to use a macro in a single document, store it in that document. Individual macros in a document are stored in macro projects (macro project: A collection of components, including forms, code, and class modules, that make up a macro. Macro projects created in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications can be included in add-ins and in most Microsoft Office programs.) that you can copy from one document to another.

To automate a task in a Word document that you save and publish as a Web page, instead of using a macro, you use a script anchor (script anchor: The visual representation of a script on a Web page that you open in a Microsoft Office program. Script anchors are not displayed by default. Different script anchors represent scripts written in different scripting languages.) and Microsoft Script Editor (Microsoft Script Editor: Used to add text, edit HTML tags, and edit any Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) code in a data access page. You can also view your page in the Script Editor as it would appear in a Web browser.).

Script anchors mark where you want to store a script in your Word document. When you double-click the script anchor in the Word document, Microsoft Script Editor starts so that you can program or edit the script. The script runs when the Web page is displayed in the Web browser.