How to Auto-Format Chapter Titles in Word Using a Macro

In this tutorial, I'll guide you through the process of creating a macro in Microsoft Word to automatically format chapter titles so they appear centered and on single pages throughout your document. This can save you a lot of time and effort compared to doing it manually. Check out the video tutorial on Auto Formatting Chapter Titles in Word.

Step 1: Enable the Developer Tab

1. Open Microsoft Word.

2. Right-click on the Ribbon and select "Customize the Ribbon."

3. In the right pane, under "Main Tabs," check the box for "Developer."

4. Click "OK" to enable the Developer tab.

Step 2: Open the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Editor

1. Go to the Developer tab.

2. Click on "Visual Basic" to open the VBA editor.

Step 3: Insert the Macro Code

1. In the VBA editor, insert a new module by clicking Insert > Module.

2. Copy and paste the following code into the module (used in the video tutorial):

   Sub ChapterTitle()
   '
   ' ChapterTitle Macro
   ' Inserts a chapter title on a new page with specific formatting.
   '
       ' Insert section break to start a new page
       Selection.InsertBreak Type:=wdPageBreak
       
       ' Move selection to the new page
       Selection.MoveUp Unit:=wdParagraph, Count:=1
       
       ' Insert carriage returns before the chapter title
       Selection.TypeParagraph
       Selection.TypeParagraph
       Selection.TypeParagraph
       Selection.TypeParagraph
       Selection.TypeParagraph
       Selection.TypeParagraph
       Selection.TypeParagraph
       Selection.TypeParagraph
       
       ' Center align the text
       Selection.ParagraphFormat.Alignment = wdAlignParagraphCenter
       
       ' Apply bold and font size 24 to the chapter title
       Selection.Font.Bold = wdToggle
       Selection.Font.Size = 24
       
       ' Type the chapter title text
       Selection.TypeText Text:="Chapter Title"
       
   End Sub

3. Click "Save" and then close the VBA editor.

Step 4: Add a Macro Button to the Quick Access Toolbar

1. Right-click on the Quick Access Toolbar (the small toolbar above or below the Ribbon).

2. Select "Customize Quick Access Toolbar."

3. In the "Choose commands from" dropdown, select "Macros."

4. Select your macro (e.g., InsertChapterTitle) and click "Add."

5. To customize the button, select the macro in the right pane, click "Modify," and choose an icon and name (e.g., "Chapter Title").

6. Click "OK" to add the button to the Quick Access Toolbar.

Step 5: Use the Macro to Insert Chapter Titles

1. Place your cursor at the beginning of the section where you want to insert a chapter title.

2. Click the new macro button on the Quick Access Toolbar.

3. The macro will insert a section break, a centered "Chapter Title" text in bold, 24pt font.

Step 6: Customize the Ribbon (Optional)

1. Right-click on the Ribbon and select "Customize the Ribbon."

2. In the left pane, select "Macros" from the dropdown.

3. Select your macro and click "Add" to place it in a new or existing group on your preferred tab (e.g., Home tab).

4. Customize the icon and name if desired, then click "OK."

Step 7: Save Your Document

1. Go to "File > Save As."

2. Save your document as a normal Word document. The macro will be saved within the document, so you can run it anytime without needing to save it as a macro-enabled document.

Step 8: Record a Macro (Alternative Method)

If you prefer recording a macro instead of writing code:

1. Go to the Developer tab.

2. Click on "Record Macro."

3. Name the macro (e.g., ChapterTitle2) and choose "Button" to add it to the Quick Access Toolbar.

4. Click "OK" and start recording your actions:

   • Hit Enter several times to position the text.

   • Type "Chapter Title."

   • Select the text, go to the Home tab, and format it (e.g., bold, 24pt, centered).

5. Stop recording by clicking "Stop Recording" in the Developer tab.

6. Test the macro by placing your cursor and clicking the new macro button.

Troubleshooting

If the macro doesn't work as expected:

1. Go to the Developer tab and click "Macros."

2. Select your macro and click "Edit" to open the VBA editor.

3. Adjust the code as needed, save, and test again.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can easily automate the formatting of chapter titles in your Word documents, saving you time and ensuring consistency. Be sure and check out other Tutorials on my website for step-by-step instructions and how-to guides.