[thePurpleGiant]

Call me slow, but I finally decided to upgrade from using ClarisWorks 5 in classic to AppleWorks 6 under OS X. All okay so far, toolbar is massive, but I can deal with that. Interface is slower, but I can deal with that too. The main thing I can't find though is Macros!

In ClarisWorks, they are simply in the File menu, called Macros. Record, Play or edit. Easy.

Under AppleWorks 6, there is nothing called 'Macros' in the File menu, or any menu for that matter!! I searched Appleworks Help for Macros, it comes up with lots of useful topics, but when I click on the topic, it says it can't find the file.

So I ask thee ever knowing MacNN: How can I record and play a macro in AppleWorks 6? Surely Apple hasn't removed the feature??

[bbales]

Originally posted by thePurpleGiant:
Call me slow, but I finally decided to upgrade from using ClarisWorks 5 in classic to AppleWorks 6 under OS X. All okay so far, toolbar is massive, but I can deal with that. Interface is slower, but I can deal with that too. The main thing I can't find though is Macros!

In ClarisWorks, they are simply in the File menu, called Macros. Record, Play or edit. Easy.

Under AppleWorks 6, there is nothing called 'Macros' in the File menu, or any menu for that matter!! I searched Appleworks Help for Macros, it comes up with lots of useful topics, but when I click on the topic, it says it can't find the file.

So I ask thee ever knowing MacNN: How can I record and play a macro in AppleWorks 6? Surely Apple hasn't removed the feature??

Yes, they did, amazingly enough. I was appalled at discovering this, upon upgrading to OSX and AppleWorks 6 at the same time, two-plus years ago. I still use AppleWorks for most of my word processing, even though I also do own Office.

I cannot even recall the reasoning behind this, although I found some stuff on it while investigating where they'd "hidden" macros. (And found out they'd hidden them so well they'd disappeared!)

However, there are some options. Some cost money. One of my macros created a letterhead kind of page, with "To" and "From" etc. all typed out. So I created this in AppleWorks, saved it as a template and then dragged this template onto my toolbar. So now, when I need this, which is often, I simply click on it at the top of my toolbar and my letterhead is on the screen. I created a fax cover sheet in the same way. As for some of my other macros, I bought QuicKeys, which I use for other programs as well, of course. I know there are other keyboard shortcut programs out there and many are less expensive. I've used this one a long time, and have just stuck with it. And I don't use it nearly to its full advantage.

Anyway, stop looking for macros. They're gone. BUT -- you do have some alternatives.

Oh -- and about it being slow. Make sure you have unchecked or deselected the "recent items" preference. Otherwise, the programs keeps (eventually) thousands of little extra files around and the program becomes unbearably slow. Uncheck that, kill all those files and the programs speeds up quite a bit. By the time I discovered this (and I was ready to kill by that point), my typing was many words ahead of what was appearing on the screen.)

[bbales]

Another thing -- Office DOES have macros.

[thePurpleGiant]

Thanks bbales - this was driving me absolutely nuts! I can't believe they took out a perfectly working feature!? I feel sorry for those that actually paid to upgrade their software, only to find less features - at least mine came free with a newer computer.

I actually already have Office X, I just tend to prefer the way claris/appleworks handles graphics and other layouts. Bugger. Well, at least I don't have to keep searching - templates will solve a few issues, but I use them frequently for inserting things into my documents.

...time to write to Apple