distributing a Word form with macros

[Lisa]

I've developed a protected form in Word that will be distributed as a Doc
file to multiple users in an organization. It uses macros to validate user
entries and perform calculations. The subroutines and userforms are in the
Doc file itself, because I was told that asking folks to use a Dot to create
instances of the form would be too complicated.

Now I'm told that asking users to set Macro Security Level on Medium and
click "Enable macros" when opening the doc is too confusing (despite clear
directions complete with screen caps -- sigh).

The people who will be maintaining the form insist that there is a way to
ensure the macros will work regardless of the user's security settings -- and
without saying "Enable macros." They say they have seen it, they just don't
know how to do it. I've tried to figure out how this is possible, and have
tried to find info on the web, but to no avail.

Is there a way to distribute the form to multiple users, ensuring the macros
will run regardless of their security settings and without requiring them to
click "Enable macros"?

Most users will be running Word 2002 under Windows XP or XP SP2.

 

[Jean-Guy Marcil]

Lisa was telling us:
Lisa nous racontait que :

I've developed a protected form in Word that will be distributed as a
Doc file to multiple users in an organization. It uses macros to
validate user entries and perform calculations. The subroutines and
userforms are in the Doc file itself, because I was told that asking
folks to use a Dot to create instances of the form would be too
complicated.

Now I'm told that asking users to set Macro Security Level on Medium
and click "Enable macros" when opening the doc is too confusing
(despite clear directions complete with screen caps -- sigh).

The people who will be maintaining the form insist that there is a
way to ensure the macros will work regardless of the user's security
settings -- and without saying "Enable macros." They say they have
seen it, they just don't know how to do it. I've tried to figure out
how this is possible, and have tried to find info on the web, but to
no avail.

Is there a way to distribute the form to multiple users, ensuring the
macros will run regardless of their security settings and without
requiring them to click "Enable macros"?

Most users will be running Word 2002 under Windows XP or XP SP2.

Yes, it is possible, but you will need to install your document in a
trusted location on each user machine. Normally, this would be their
UserTemplate folder as defined in Tools > Options > File Locations.
But, normally, we put *.dot files in that folder, not *.doc... although you
can, it will be kind of weird.

By the way, using a doc when a *.dot should be used (as you originally
wanted to) is asking for trouble. I understand what your client said to you
regarding the supposed difficulty of using a *.dot... but, with a *.doc, you
are guaranteed that users will do "SAVE" instead of "SAVE AS" an overwrite
the original file... then they will call you and complain....


--

Salut!
_______________________________________
Jean-Guy Marcil - Word MVP
(e-mail address removed)
Word MVP site: http://www.word.mvps.org

 

[Lisa]

Thank you for your reply, Jean-Guy.

Unfortunately, putting the file in the users' template directory is "too
complicated" unless there's someway to do this automatically for them. (For
example, if I had an executable that detected the UserTemplate folder and
copied the file into that directory -- and users could run the executable on
a double click from an email attachment -- that probably would be acceptable.
However, I don't have a clue as to how to do this.)

Your point re. saving and overwriting the original doc file is a good one.
I've set the original doc file to "read only" hoping to avoid this...

I noticed your response to another's question ("placing a control on a
document") that ActiveX buttons will cause security warning issues... And, of
course, I've used ActiveX buttons. (Though I'm willing to try to change that.)

Tried the macro button approach you described in the other post, but it
doesn't work with a protected form...

My main problem (aside from not being a programmer ;-) is that they want
everything to work without any user intervention at all (because nobody will
read directions on what they need to do).

 

[Jean-Guy Marcil]

Lisa was telling us:
Lisa nous racontait que :

Thank you for your reply, Jean-Guy.

Unfortunately, putting the file in the users' template directory is
"too complicated" unless there's someway to do this automatically for
them. (For example, if I had an executable that detected the
UserTemplate folder and copied the file into that directory -- and
users could run the executable on a double click from an email
attachment -- that probably would be acceptable. However, I don't
have a clue as to how to do this.)

You need an Installer... I do not know of a product that will let you build
such an executable (that will locate the appropriate folder) without any
programming background...

Your point re. saving and overwriting the original doc file is a good
one. I've set the original doc file to "read only" hoping to avoid
this...

Good thinking!

I noticed your response to another's question ("placing a control on a
document") that ActiveX buttons will cause security warning issues...
And, of course, I've used ActiveX buttons. (Though I'm willing to try
to change that.)

Tried the macro button approach you described in the other post, but
it doesn't work with a protected form...

Then you are not doing it right somehow... MACROBUTTON fields work in
protected forms (In fact, we use them to replace Hyperlink fields that do
not work in protected forms...)

My main problem (aside from not being a programmer ;-) is that they
want everything to work without any user intervention at all (because
nobody will read directions on what they need to do).

Are these clients of your a big corporation or a small outfit?


--

Salut!
_______________________________________
Jean-Guy Marcil - Word MVP
(e-mail address removed)
Word MVP site: http://www.word.mvps.org

 

[Lisa]

You need an Installer... I do not know of a product that will let you build

such an executable (that will locate the appropriate folder) without any
programming background...

I suspected as much. Thanks for confirming.

Then you are not doing it right somehow... MACROBUTTON fields work in
protected forms (In fact, we use them to replace Hyperlink fields that do
not work in protected forms...)

I'll play with this some more... Worked like a charm in an uprotected
document, but couldn't click on it in protected. Doubtless a problem between
chair and keyboard ;-)

Are these clients of your a big corporation or a small outfit?

I really don't know much about the "client" -- I did the form as as a favor
to a friend (and no good deed goes unpunished ;-). I believe the end-user
company has offices internationally (sounds big to me). On the other hand,
the IT department said if I saved the file with Macro Security Level = Low on
my system, everybody in their org could run the code without having to click
"enable macros." (Doesn't sound like a sophisticated IT dept to me ;-)

Thanks again for your time and good advice!

 

[Lisa]

Then you are not doing it right somehow... MACROBUTTON fields work in
protected forms (In fact, we use them to replace Hyperlink fields that do
not work in protected forms...)

Well, I just re-tested the MACROBUTTON field in a protected form and it
works perfectly... Have no idea what I did wrong before.
Thanks again!

 

[Berlie]

I use an open source installer to install a template with macros into
user's template folders.You can find it at http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page.
I use it in conjunction with an editor that has a wizard that walks
you through setting up the installer. It can be found at http://
hmne.sourceforge.net/.

 

[Lisa]

This sounds terrific -- and something I'd enjoy learning regardless, just to
have the capability should I need it in the future.
Thank you much, Berlie!