One of the best features of LaTeX, for any heavy user, is that LaTeX can be programmed to fit your specific needs. Macros are small program-like sets of instructions with a name which can be used as a shorthand way to call the operation. Macros can be very complex or very simple. Length of these macros increases the difficulty in writing them, but even very short macros can greatly help you in automating tedious or repetitive tasks. For the more casual LaTeX user, macros will most often be used for simple text replacement. But, macros can also be used with arguments, they can be nested within each other, and you can even reprogram internal LaTeX variables to make them function exactly as you want.
This page covers the macro programming which would most likely be used by the more casual user. If you think more help on macros would be good, or if you have any suggestions on any of these pages, Contact us.