A macro is like a script: a step-by-step series of commands that Word performs, rapid-fire, each time the macro is run. Although the vast majority of Office fans live quite happily without ever invoking a macro, many power users revel in the efficiency a well-designed macro brings to their computer life, automating a variety of repetitive, tedious tasks. If that describes you, sit down and take a deep breath because Office 2008 brings you some bad news—and some good news.

When Microsoft rewrote Office 2008 as a Universal Binary program—one that will run efficiently on the new Intel Macs as well as the older PowerPC Macs—they had to make some very basic changes to the way the program operates. Most obvious is the new XML file format introduced by Office 2007 for Windows. Less obvious, but much more shocking to some, is the fact that Office no longer uses Visual Basic for Applications, or VBA—the programming language that controlled the wizardry of Word macros. In its place is AppleScript—Mac OS X’s system-wide scripting language—support for which is better than ever in Office 2008. With AppleScript, you can do nearly everything you could do with VBA. Additionally, AppleScript extends scriptability to the system and the rest of your programs, allowing multi-application macros. (See AppleScripting Office for much more about AppleScript, VBA, macros, and Office automation.)

You’ll still find Tools → Macros in Word 2008. Choose it to open the Macros dialog box. But instead of the macro recorder you may be looking for if you’re used to earlier versions of Word, you’ll find instead just a list of dozens of Word commands. Here you’ll find commands to, for example, change text alignment, add borders, draw shapes, check spelling, and so on. Select the macro name, read what it’s supposed to do in the Description box, and then click Run to perform it.