Operation Manual

Using macros to automate tasks | 685
Using macros to automate tasks
You can use macros to speed up repetitive tasks, combine multiple or complex actions, or make an option more easily accessible. You create
macros by using the built-in features for Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) or Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA).
Using a macro is similar to using the speed-dialing feature on a phone. On many phones, you can set a frequently dialed number to a speed-
dial button; then, the next time you need to dial that number, you can save time by pressing its speed-dial button. Similarly, a macro lets you
set the actions that you want to repeat; then, the next time that you need to repeat those actions, you can save time by playing that macro.
This section contains the following topic:
• “Working with macros” (page 685)
Working with macros
You can save time by using a macro to automate a series of repetitive tasks. A macro lets you specify a sequence of actions so that you can
quickly repeat those actions later.
You don’t need any programming experience to use macros — in fact, the basic tools for working with macros are available within the
main application window. However, if you want to have more control over your macros, you can use the following built-in programming
environments:
• Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) — the successor to VBA, and an excellent choice for developers and other
programming experts. VSTA provides the tools and features that you need to create the most advanced macro projects.
• Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) — a subset of the Microsoft Visual Basic (VB) programming environment, and an excellent
choice for beginners. You can use VBA to create basic macros for personal use, but you can also use it to create more advanced macro
projects.
For detailed information on the differences between VBA and VSTA, please see the Corel DESIGNER Macros Help file (draw_om.chm,
which is located in the Data folder for the installed software).
Getting started with macros
The macro features for VBA and VSTA are installed with the software by default, but you can manually install these features if necessary. You
can specify options for the VBA feature.