PowerPoint "Security" Is this a joke?

[Joseph M. Newcomer]

So I want to run a macro in PowerPoint. I'm currently stuck because for reasons that
cannot be determined, any attempt to edit the presentation in PPT2003 simply hangs the
program. So I moved to PPT2007, using compatibility mode,

Macros are disabled. OK, that's fine, but when I go to the Trust Center and tell it to
enable all macros, they are *still* disabled. Furthermore, there seems to be no provision
that says "Enable macros in this presentation only"; instead, it appears to be a global
setting that impacts all presentations (this HAS to be someone's idea of a sick joke...why
should it be a global setting? This should be a setting that is on a per-presentation
basis!)

So I figure, OK, I'm not going to edit the program, so I switch back to PPT2003. I open
the file. It tells me that the file is already in use (no surprise) and do I want to open
it read-only? Sure. But then it won't let me run any macros (the macro makes no changes,
so why should read-only-ness matter? Is this another bad joke at the user's expense?)

So I close the file in PPT2003, go back to PPT2007 and close the file. It won't save,
because it tells me the presentation is readonly! Say what? Where is this file made
readonly? I opened a readonly COPY but I did not change the file attributes. Furthermore,
the Windows Explorer clearly shows me that the R attribute is not set! So how could
anyone think it is "readonly"? (I have all files visible, so unless this is installing a
rootkit, there is no way they could hide any kind of lock file). So I am confused about
how PPT2007 could presume that it cannot save the file (it is none of its business to make
this decision!)

Is there ANYONE at Microsoft that has the slightest CLUE about what security means? And
why is it that we get amateurs designing the security mechanisms in these tools? And did
anyone ever actually TEST these programs before releasing them?

So: how do I enable macros only for the presentation I'm working on?
joe
Joseph M. Newcomer [MVP]
email: (e-mail address removed)
Web: http://www.flounder.com
MVP Tips: http://www.flounder.com/mvp_tips.htm

 

[Joseph M. Newcomer]

It is sicker than I could have imagined. Having saved the presentation in PPT2007 in
compatibility mode, closed all files, re-opened it in PPT2003, gotten an editable copy, I
find that the macros are STILL disabled, and when I go to the Options, Security, and
reduce the security, the macros are STILL disabled in PPT2003!!!!

So the situation is even worse. I need to re-enable my macro, and the standard mechanisms
appear to not work!
joe

So I want to run a macro in PowerPoint. I'm currently stuck because for reasons that
cannot be determined, any attempt to edit the presentation in PPT2003 simply hangs the
program. So I moved to PPT2007, using compatibility mode,
<snip>
joe
Joseph M. Newcomer [MVP]
email: (e-mail address removed)
Web: http://www.flounder.com
MVP Tips: http://www.flounder.com/mvp_tips.htm

Joseph M. Newcomer [MVP]
email: (e-mail address removed)
Web: http://www.flounder.com
MVP Tips: http://www.flounder.com/mvp_tips.htm

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

So I want to run a macro in PowerPoint. I'm currently stuck because for reasons that
cannot be determined, any attempt to edit the presentation in PPT2003 simply hangs the
program. So I moved to PPT2007, using compatibility mode,

Macros are disabled. OK, that's fine, but when I go to the Trust Center and tell it to
enable all macros, they are *still* disabled. Furthermore, there seems to be no provision
that says "Enable macros in this presentation only"; instead, it appears to be a global
setting that impacts all presentations (this HAS to be someone's idea of a sick joke...why
should it be a global setting? This should be a setting that is on a per-presentation
basis!)

Do much programming against PPT and you'll find lots of stuff that suggests there's a wacko
or two running around in the bowels of Redmond.

Still ... from the point of view of a user opening PPTs from all manner of sources, I'd want
to say "Stop all macros in all files from running (unless possibly you ask and I permit
them). On the other hand, it'd be nice to be able to say "OK, I trust this Newcomer guy.
Let this one file of his run unmolested. But not those others." Digital sigs are a step in
that direction, I suppose. I agree to trust stuff from you and as long as it's verifiably
yours, it can run w/o PPT getting in the way.

Or just set security to Medium in 2003. If the presentation has macros, PPT will ask if
it's ok to enable them and will do so or not depending on what you tell it.

After enabling all macros, you'll probably need to restart PPT, or at the very least close
and re-open the presntation in question.

As to the other stuff, no comment. Sounds like it has a screw loose but you're liable to
run into that kind of thing when more than one version's installed and worse, when they're
both running, and worse yet, if you're trying to share a file between them.

I'd avoid that. At least, never have two versions open at once. Or at least don't do it
unless your blood pressure medicine's handy.