Define org mode macro with line breaks

Question

It is possible to define a macro in an org file as follow:

#+MACRO: macroname 

Is it possi

Answer 1

Not possible with standard tools at the moment, as org-macro--collect-macros only looks at single line definitions.

Here's a work-around:

* Setup                                                                               :noexport:
#+begin_src elisp :exports results :results silent
(setq my-macros
      (mapcar
       (lambda (x)
         (string-match "\\*\\* \\([^\n]+\\)\n\\(.*\\)" x)
         (cons (match-string 1 x)
               (substring x (match-beginning 2))))
       (org-element-map (org-element-parse-buffer) 'headline
         (lambda (x)
           (and (= (org-element-property :level x) 2)
                (string=
                 (org-element-property
                  :raw-value
                  (org-element-property :parent x)) "Macros")
                (buffer-substring-no-properties
                 (org-element-property :begin x)
                 (org-element-property :end x)))))
       headings))

(defadvice org-macro--collect-macros (around add-macros activate)
  (let ((r ad-do-it))
    (setq ad-return-value
          (append my-macros r))))
#+end_src
* Macros
** foobar
line 1 of macro

line 2 of macro

** bar
line 1 of macro

line 2 of macro
line 3 of macro
* Test
{{{foobar}}}

{{{bar}}}

This approach favors convention over customization, so each macro has to be a level 2 child of level 1 heading with name "Macros". No additional config necessary: a plain export should work.

The Setup heading should be copied to files where you want this to work. Or you can add the defadvice to your config to have this behavior everywhere.