Using the Organizer to Manage Macros

When you create macros in Word, they are stored in modules, which are, in turn, stored with either a document or a template.

You can use the Organizer to rename, delete, or copy macros and modules from one document or template to another. You can use the Organizer to work with complete modules, not individual macros.

To use the Organizer to manage your modules, follow these steps:

1. Display either the View or Developer tabs of the ribbon.
2. Click the Macros tool. (In the View tab it is in the Macros group. In the Developer tab it is in the Code group.) Word displays the Macros dialog box.
3. Click the Organizer button. Word displays the Organizer with the Macro Project Items tab visible. (See Figure 1.)



Figure 1. The Macro Project Items tab of the Organizer.

4. Examine the left and right side of the Organizer. Each side can display modules in either a document or a template.
5. Use the pull-down lists on either the left or right to indicate the template or document whose macros or modules you want to manage.
6. If you cannot locate the desired template or document using the pull-down lists, click on the Close button on one side to "free up" an area. Then click on the Open button to locate and open the desired template or document.
7. Select the module you want to copy, rename, or delete.
8. Click on the Copy button to copy the module to the other document or template. If the target file already has a module with the name of the one being copied, you are asked if you want to replace it.
9. Click on the Rename button to change the name of the selected module. The Organizer prompts you for a new name.
10. Click on the Remove button to delete the module. The Organizer asks you to confirm your action. (This is a very good thing, as there can be many, many macros in a module.)
11. Repeat steps 7 through 10 for each module you want to affect.
12. Click on Close when done.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (12994) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Word in Microsoft 365, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Using the Organizer to Manage Macros.