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NOTE: If you want to load an existing document (such
as a list of telephone numbers or some other reference document)
from your disc -- which is different from loading a new document
based on a custom template -- you can simply drag the file
from Windows Explorer or My Computer to the WordPerfect toolbar.
A new toolbar button will appear. You can change the default
icon on the button using the methods explained below. |
After you have created one or
more custom letterhead (or other) templates, you may want
to create simple macros to load documents based on these
templates. This saves several keystrokes (clicking the File menu,
locating the category, locating the project, loading it, etc.).
If you only have one or two commonly
used templates, you can use buttons on the Toolbar to play the
macros. (Click! There's your letter.) If you have several
templates (letters, envelopes, invoice forms) it may be better
to add several menu items to a drop menu on the top menu bar
to play the various macros. Both methods are discussed below.
Create a "loader"
macro(s) first -
1. Open a blank document with File, New.
2.
Click Tools, Macro, Record. Give the macro a name (e.g., MyBizLetterhead.wcm),
then click Record. The Macro Property Bar appears below your
toolbar.
3. Click File, New from Project (in
WordPerfect 9+; for WP8 use File, New).
4. Select
the template project you want to use, then click the Create New
button. The letter will load (if a Template Information dialog
appears, click Cancel).
5. Stop the macro recording
by clicking the far left button on the Macro Property Bar (its
Tool Tip says "Stop macro play or record").
6.
Close the empty letter document on screen with File, Close (don't
save it).
7. Test the macro with Tools, Macro,
Play. The macro should load your letter.
8. Repeat
the previous steps to create a differently named macro for each
custom letterhead template that you have installed on your system.
You now can create a toolbar
button to play each macro, or you can create a drop down menu
on the top menu bar with selections that play your macros. Either
or both methods can be used to automate daily tasks by playing
macros.
How to create
a Toolbar button to play a macro -
1. Right-click on the toolbar,
then click Edit. The Toolbar Editor appears.
2.
Click the Macros tab, then click the Add Macro button. From the
Select Macro window, choose the loader macro you created above,
then click Select. Usually, you can answer the "Save macro
with full path?" question with "No."
3.
A small gray "cassette" icon appears on your toolbar.
Right-click on it an choose Customize. Give the icon a Button
Text name of your choice and a Quick tip name of your choice.
Click on the Image Edit button, then click Clear to remove the
default image. Then use the tools to create your own custom icon.
(A white rectangle, black border and red letters "LH"
on the white "page" works fine.) Click OK all the way
back to the document window. (Also see "How
to change those default "audiocassette icons...")
How to create
a drop down menu with selections that play macros -
1. Right-click on the
top menu line (the one with File, Edit, View, etc.).
2.
Click on Settings from the context menu. In the Customize Settings
window that pops up, click on the menu you want to use in the
"Available menus" list. Generally this is the <WordPerfect
8 Menu> or <WordPerfect 9 Menu>, unless you have previously
created a customized menu—in which case, click on that one.
Click Edit to bring up the Menu Editor.
3. In
the Menu Editor window you'll see an indented box on the right
labeled Menu. Drag the Menu icon from this box (a small white
rectangle with a right arrowhead inside it) to WordPerfect's
top menu, to the right of Help.
4. Put your cursor
over this new top menu item (which is simply labeled "Menu"),
and when it is selected—it turns dark blue—double click
it. This will allow you to change the name in the Menu Item field
to "Letterheads" or something familiar, and add a floating
description (a Quick Tip). You can type an ampersand (&)
immediately before any letter in the name that you want to use
as a mnemonic that will select the macro if you use the Alt+<letter>
key combination. Click OK when you are done with the name.
5. While the Menu Editor window is still open, click
on the Macros tab at the top, and then click the Add Macros button.
Select the macro that loads your letterhead. Click Select to
close the Select Macro window, and click anywhere in a blank
area of the Menu Editor window to make it active again. You'll
notice the macro's name was placed on the top menu, but next
to your new Letterheads menu. You'll want to put it under the
new Letterhead item, and change its name:
6. Place
your cursor over the new macro's name on the top menu until it
turns blue (i.e., it's now selected), then drag it with your
left mouse button over to the Letterhead menu item — then
drag it down to the blank (gray) area that pops up just under
the word "Letterhead," and drop it there. (Sort of
"go west, then go south" with your mouse, while holding
down the left button.) This is where the first menu selection
will appear.
Note: For additional letterheads you can drop
the name either below or above any existing menu items. A heavy
horizontal line will appear to guide your placement. You also
can add a separator line between menu items by dragging and dropping
it from the Menu Editor window.
7. Rename the
menu selection by highlighting it with your mouse. Double click
the macro's name and rename it in the pop up box. You can type
an ampersand (&) immediately before any letter in the name
that you want to use as a mnemonic and that will select the macro
if you use the Alt+<letter> combination.
8.
Click OK when you are done to close the Menu Editor.
9.
Click Close in the Customize Settings window.
How to use
keystrokes to play a macro -
See Assigning a macro, feature,
program, or string of keystrokes to a key or key combination
(i.e., a "shortcut" or "hot key").
Matching your
letterhead with custom envelopes -
The Envelope feature in WordPerfect
6-X3 for Windows, unlike the one in the old WP6 for DOS, does
not allow you to directly add graphics or multiple fonts in the
return address area of the Envelope feature's dialog. But this
can be easily done: See here.
Barry MacDonnell's