How to call a VBA-macro in another MS Word document?

Question

in MS Excel I have been distributing a xls-file that contains a macro. From the users "random" current open workbook I have successfully been calling this macro by telling Word in which file to look for it. Like this, when the user clicks a button on the ribbon:

C:\\\\"'MyExcelFileWithTheMacro.xls'!MyMacroName"

Can I do the same in MS Word? That is, to call a macro in a Word-file located in any given folder from an instance of Word that has not opened that file?

I have tried, of course, but Word keeps saying it can't find the macro.

The reason I want to do it this way is that it is makes for easy distribution and updating of the macro. Next up is signing the macro. I hope it can be done when doing things this way, but not sure.

Answer 1

No, it's not possible to call and run a macro in any Office application if the file that contains the macro is not loaded in the application interface.

That being said, if you place the macro in a *.dotm template and have the user put the template in the STARTUP folder used by the Word application, then Word will load the template as an "Add-in". And in that case you should be able to access the macro.

Or, if you don't want it in the Startup folder and you have code that automates the Word.Application, anyway, then that code can load the *.dotm as an "Addin", which should make the macro available (and remove it when you're done with it). Research Application.Addins.Load and Addin.Installed in the Word language reference as well as on-line for examples.