Business Glossary

a user-defined sequence of instructions for a computer.

In assembly language and in programming languages such as C, macros are user-defined abbreviations for sequences of program statements. When the program is compiled, each occurrence of the macro is replaced by the instructions for which it stands. This contrasts with a function , procedure , or method , which is stored in one place in memory and called by the main program every time it is needed.

In application programs, macros are user-defined sequences of operations, which can be assigned to specific keys, placed on menus, or combined with pre-existing operations such as Open and Close. In Microsoft Office applications, you can use the Macro Recorder to save a sequence of keystrokes or mouseclicks as a macro, or you can program a macro in Visual Basic .

a series of computer keyboard or mouse actions recorded to be replayed. The sequence can be assigned to a key combination, a menu item, or a toolbar button for convenience. Macros can also be written using the programming language of a given application, such as VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) in Word and Excel.