So you want to use a .GMS file...
You've seen other users refer to "macros" on the forum. Someone has shared a .GMS file, and you want to use it, but have never installed one. Here's a link to a .GMS file:
Hello_World.gms.
If you didn't have a .GMS file before, now you do. What next?
Make sure that your version of CorelDRAW includes VBA support.
If you are using CorelDRAW "Home and Student", then VBA support is not included.
Make sure that VBA support is installed:
If you are using the regular version of CorelDRAW, then VBA support is included, but installation is optional. Open the Macro Manager (Window>Dockers>Macro Manager) and look near the top for "Visual Basic for Applications":
If you don't see "Visual Basic for Applications" there, then you may need to run the CorelDRAW setup and "Modify" your installation,making sure that VBA support is selected.
If it's still not there, then running the CorelDRAW setup and using the "Repair" option may set things to rights.
Have VBA available in CorelDRAW? Good! Find - or create if necessary - your "user" GMS folder.
Your "user" GMS folder will be in your user AppData\Roaming. So, something like this, if your username happens to be "Eskimo":
C:\Users\Eskimo\AppData\Roaming\Corel\CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2018\Draw\GMS.
AppData is hidden, so if you try to browse your way there, you may not see it if File Explorer has not been set to show hidden files/folders/drives. A shortcut way to get there - that doesn't require changing any settings for showing hidden content - is by using %AppData% in File Explorer as shown here:
You may or may not have a folder there named "GMS". If not, then create one now. You may find it convenient to create a shortcut to this folder.
Here is another video (not content that I produced). It walks through the entire process in some detail; highly recommended!
The "other" GMS folder?
You may have read information that refers to putting .GMS files in one of the program folders, e.g.:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Corel\CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 13\Draw\GMSC:\Program Files\Corel\CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2018\Draw\GMS
GMS files in such a location will have their subs present in the Macro Manager for all users on the computer. Unless you have specific reasons for doing otherwise, I recommend that you use your "user" GMS folder, as described earlier in this post.
Install the .GMS file.
Move or copy the .GMS file to your "user" GMS folder.
See the macro subs in CorelDRAW.
The next time that CorelDRAW is started, the subs associated with that .GMS file should be visible in the Macro Manager. The screenshot on the left shows the Macro Manager with "Simple Mode" turned off; the one on the right has it turned on. That mode is controlled by a button just to the right of "Load...".
There are two subs visible that are associated with this .GMS file:
Use the macro.
To run one of those subs, you can double-click on it in the Macro Manager. Here's how these subs look in use:
For more convenient use, a sub can be assigned to a keyboard shortcut and/or put on a toolbar or menu using CorelDRAW's regular workspace customization capabilities. For more on that, see #2: Using a VBA macro sub as a Command in CorelDRAW's workspace customization.
Thank you very much, Trey (trey86)
This is a good introductory resource piece for those brand new to VBA with CorelDRAW. I wish I had found this when I was getting started last year, haha. Luckily I did find enough scattered info to get going, but I hope brand new users can find this resource and not have to struggle as much as I did.