Add -q option (suppress print upon creation) to %macro Macros are very, very useful and "Matlab" like (as well as other similar math computing environs). Often I (or my students) use a macro to load long complex code from a url -- e.g., large data sets, simulated data, preprocessing of data, special plotting commands, grading routines... Currently, this requires defining the macro at the end of the notebook so when the "print upon creation" occurs it doesn't overwhelm the notebook (except at the end). The -q option suppresses the print contents upon creation. Example with a Matplotlib example: In[1]: %macro tmp http://matplotlib.org/mpl_examples/api/date_demo.py Macro `tmp` created. To execute, type its name (without quotes). === Macro contents: === """ Show how to make date plots in matplotlib using date tick locators and formatters. See major_minor_demo1.py for more information on controlling major and minor ticks ... In[2]: %macro -q tmp2 http://matplotlib.org/mpl_examples/api/date_demo.py (nothing) Perhaps, though, the first line should print -- e.g., Macro `tmp` created. To execute, type its name (without quotes). In the docstraing, I also fixed a typo (an "as" that should be an "at") and clarified how to produce an example output.