Missing Macros

Question

To my dismay, I noticed that all my macros from Word 2019 had disappeared. My normal template is stored on my NAS, and as that is backed up every night, I decided to restore an earlier version of the normal file. Howevere, even though the file was dated earlier than when I last knew my macros were working, there were still no macros to be seen. I then tried restoring a previous whole disc image of my laptop, just in case, but again, no macros. So, resigning myself to having to recreate them, I made three new ones and tested that they were working. Great I thought - but, as soon as I closed Word and then restarted it, all the macros were gone again. Can anyone give me some ideas how to fix this and how do I get into the editing function to import a bas file if I don't have any macros to edit?

Answer 1

Adding to Charles's reply, regarding importing .bas files:

• Open the template in which you want to store the macros, or any document based on that template. The Normal.dotm template is always loaded, but any other template would have to be loaded explicitly, either by opening it directly or by basing a document on it. Global templates stored in the Startup folder, although they're automatically loaded, won't be accessible unless you open them.
• Open the macro editor (Alt+F11).
• In the Project pane in the left column of the editor, right-click the project for the template.
• Click the "Import File..." item.

• In the Import File dialog (a twin of the Open dialog), select the .bas file and click the Open button. Because the .bas file includes the name of the module when it was exported, the same name will be used to import it. You can rename the module later if you wish.

Answer 2

Hi

Long-term, consider storing your macros in a separate template stored in your Word startup folder.

Recorded macros are stored, by default, in the Normal.dotm template. *Often, poorly-written Add-Ins will block the saving of changes to the normal template.*Try disabling all of your Add-Ins. Then record a macro saving it the normal template. Quit Word, and reopen. Are your macros there?

Another way to force a save is after recording press:

Alt+F11

Ctrl+S

Then close the visual basic editor.

This forum is a user-to-user support forum. I am a fellow user.

I hope this information helps.

Please let me know if you have any more questions or require further help.

You can ask for more help by replying to this post (Reply button below).

Regards

Answer 3

Glad you figured out a workaronud. Again, look to Add-Ins as the likely culprit. Add-Ins can be very useful. I generally have about 15 working in the background when I use Word. However, you need to know what they are doing.

Answer 4

I tried saving the macros and there were no error messages while doing that, plus the macros were working until I exited Words; then they were gone. I think I may have found the answer however: I copied all my templates, including the normal file back onto my C Drive, then pasted in the macros I had saved to a text file and edited them to point to the new location. So far it appears to be working. I've no idea why there should have suddenly been a problem though as I've had most of my data stored on my NAS for quite a while. It may be related to the fact that my Synology NAS shares have become invisible to some of my programs lately, although they can still be accessed using the \DISKSTATION method.