Registry patch to lower security of word - Word does not respond

[Dixie]

I need to change the security of Word 2003 to allow it to enable macros in
templates in a large site with dozens of computers. Every computer has
Word's default security set to high. I have come up with this registry
patch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Security]
"Level"=dword:00000001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the key by watching what key changed in the registry when I lowered
the security of Word manually. Now I am really perplexed. If I run this
registry patch, it changes the key shown from 3 (high) to 1 (low), just as
doing it manually via Word does. However, when you go back into Word, the
Security is still set to high, even though the Level is set to 1 in the
registry. Surely I am missing something here. The registry key responds to
changing the macro security in Word, but Word does not respond to having the
key changed from outside.

Can anyone please help with this, as this key is on HKEY_CURRENT_USER, which
means in the network environment it is in, it has to be done once for each
person using each workstation. This is a very large manual task.

TIA
dixie

 

[Graham Mayor]

NO! NO! NO!
Do *NOT* set the security of your users PCs to low. This will open the door
to macro viruses and is not necessary for what you want to achieve.
You need to set the user's PCs to trust installed templates and add-ins.
This (and the macro security) is set from the Word data key settings sub key
along with a load of other settings. This binary key does not lend itself to
manual manipulation in the manner you imagine.
You are either going to have to instruct the users how to set macro security
to trust installed templates and add-ins, or do what the company is paying
you for and adjust each one yourself.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[Dixie]

The second option is not possible as the sites are spread over a distance of
more than 1200km. As you can tell, I am not a Word person Graham, what do
you mean by the "Word data key settings sub key "? Is this an easy thing to
set?

NO! NO! NO!
Do *NOT* set the security of your users PCs to low. This will open the
door to macro viruses and is not necessary for what you want to achieve.
You need to set the user's PCs to trust installed templates and add-ins.
This (and the macro security) is set from the Word data key settings sub
key along with a load of other settings. This binary key does not lend
itself to manual manipulation in the manner you imagine.
You are either going to have to instruct the users how to set macro
security to trust installed templates and add-ins, or do what the company
is paying you for and adjust each one yourself.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

I need to change the security of Word 2003 to allow it to enable
macros in templates in a large site with dozens of computers. Every
computer has Word's default security set to high. I have come up
with this registry patch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Security]
"Level"=dword:00000001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the key by watching what key changed in the registry when I
lowered the security of Word manually. Now I am really perplexed. If I
run this registry patch, it changes the key shown from 3 (high)
to 1 (low), just as doing it manually via Word does. However, when
you go back into Word, the Security is still set to high, even though
the Level is set to 1 in the registry. Surely I am missing something
here. The registry key responds to changing the macro security in
Word, but Word does not respond to having the key changed from
outside.
Can anyone please help with this, as this key is on
HKEY_CURRENT_USER, which means in the network environment it is in,
it has to be done once for each person using each workstation. This
is a very large manual task.
TIA
dixie

 

[Graham Mayor]

The registry key in question is

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Data\Settings

This is a user key, binary and non-editable, which contains most of the
settings in tools > options and a few other things besides.. The only
practical way to set it is through tools > options > security > macro
security > trusted publishers > trust all installed templates and add-ins.

If you cannot attend the sites, the easiest plan will be to instruct the
users to set this option.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

The second option is not possible as the sites are spread over a
distance of more than 1200km. As you can tell, I am not a Word person
Graham, what do you mean by the "Word data key settings sub key "? Is this
an easy thing to set?

NO! NO! NO!
Do *NOT* set the security of your users PCs to low. This will open
the door to macro viruses and is not necessary for what you want to
achieve. You need to set the user's PCs to trust installed templates
and add-ins. This (and the macro security) is set from the Word data
key settings sub key along with a load of other settings. This
binary key does not lend itself to manual manipulation in the manner
you imagine. You are either going to have to instruct the users how to
set macro
security to trust installed templates and add-ins, or do what the
company is paying you for and adjust each one yourself.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

I need to change the security of Word 2003 to allow it to enable
macros in templates in a large site with dozens of computers. Every
computer has Word's default security set to high. I have come up
with this registry patch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Security]
"Level"=dword:00000001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the key by watching what key changed in the registry when I
lowered the security of Word manually. Now I am really perplexed.
If I run this registry patch, it changes the key shown from 3 (high)
to 1 (low), just as doing it manually via Word does. However, when
you go back into Word, the Security is still set to high, even
though the Level is set to 1 in the registry. Surely I am missing
something here. The registry key responds to changing the macro
security in Word, but Word does not respond to having the key
changed from outside.
Can anyone please help with this, as this key is on
HKEY_CURRENT_USER, which means in the network environment it is in,
it has to be done once for each person using each workstation. This
is a very large manual task.
TIA
dixie

 

[Dixie]

OK, I follow that, but what is meant by an installed template? How do you
install a template as opposed to just having a number of them somewhere in a
folder on the system. Does that mean that they have to be specifically
placed in one of the paths that is in Option Files as either User Templatess
or Workgroup Templates?

dixie

The registry key in question is

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Data\Settings

This is a user key, binary and non-editable, which contains most of the
settings in tools > options and a few other things besides.. The only
practical way to set it is through tools > options > security > macro
security > trusted publishers > trust all installed templates and add-ins.

If you cannot attend the sites, the easiest plan will be to instruct the
users to set this option.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

The second option is not possible as the sites are spread over a
distance of more than 1200km. As you can tell, I am not a Word person
Graham, what do you mean by the "Word data key settings sub key "? Is
this an easy thing to set?

NO! NO! NO!
Do *NOT* set the security of your users PCs to low. This will open
the door to macro viruses and is not necessary for what you want to
achieve. You need to set the user's PCs to trust installed templates
and add-ins. This (and the macro security) is set from the Word data
key settings sub key along with a load of other settings. This
binary key does not lend itself to manual manipulation in the manner
you imagine. You are either going to have to instruct the users how to
set macro
security to trust installed templates and add-ins, or do what the
company is paying you for and adjust each one yourself.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Dixie wrote:
I need to change the security of Word 2003 to allow it to enable
macros in templates in a large site with dozens of computers. Every
computer has Word's default security set to high. I have come up
with this registry patch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Security]
"Level"=dword:00000001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the key by watching what key changed in the registry when I
lowered the security of Word manually. Now I am really perplexed.
If I run this registry patch, it changes the key shown from 3 (high)
to 1 (low), just as doing it manually via Word does. However, when
you go back into Word, the Security is still set to high, even
though the Level is set to 1 in the registry. Surely I am missing
something here. The registry key responds to changing the macro
security in Word, but Word does not respond to having the key
changed from outside.
Can anyone please help with this, as this key is on
HKEY_CURRENT_USER, which means in the network environment it is in,
it has to be done once for each person using each workstation. This
is a very large manual task.
TIA
dixie

 

[Graham Mayor]

An installed template is a template or addin installed in the User
Templates, Workgroup Templates or Startup Templates.
http://www.gmayor.com/Template_Locations.htm
A template can be used wherever it is stored, but it will only be installed
if placed in one of the defined folders as you surmise.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

OK, I follow that, but what is meant by an installed template? How
do you install a template as opposed to just having a number of them
somewhere in a folder on the system. Does that mean that they have
to be specifically placed in one of the paths that is in Option Files
as either User Templatess or Workgroup Templates?

dixie

The registry key in question is

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Data\Settings

This is a user key, binary and non-editable, which contains most of
the settings in tools > options and a few other things besides.. The
only practical way to set it is through tools > options > security >
macro security > trusted publishers > trust all installed templates
and add-ins. If you cannot attend the sites, the easiest plan will be to
instruct
the users to set this option.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

The second option is not possible as the sites are spread over a
distance of more than 1200km. As you can tell, I am not a Word
person Graham, what do you mean by the "Word data key settings sub
key "? Is this an easy thing to set?

NO! NO! NO!
Do *NOT* set the security of your users PCs to low. This will open
the door to macro viruses and is not necessary for what you want to
achieve. You need to set the user's PCs to trust installed
templates and add-ins. This (and the macro security) is set from
the Word data key settings sub key along with a load of other
settings. This binary key does not lend itself to manual manipulation
in the
manner you imagine. You are either going to have to instruct the
users how to set macro
security to trust installed templates and add-ins, or do what the
company is paying you for and adjust each one yourself.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Dixie wrote:
I need to change the security of Word 2003 to allow it to enable
macros in templates in a large site with dozens of computers. Every
computer has Word's default security set to high. I have
come up with this registry patch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Security]
"Level"=dword:00000001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the key by watching what key changed in the registry when
I lowered the security of Word manually. Now I am really
perplexed. If I run this registry patch, it changes the key shown
from 3 (high) to 1 (low), just as doing it manually via Word
does. However, when you go back into Word, the Security is still
set to high, even though the Level is set to 1 in the registry. Surely
I am missing something here. The registry key responds to
changing the macro security in Word, but Word does not respond to
having the key changed from outside.
Can anyone please help with this, as this key is on
HKEY_CURRENT_USER, which means in the network environment it is
in, it has to be done once for each person using each
workstation. This is a very large manual task.
TIA
dixie

 

[Dixie]

Good, now I'm starting to understand. Now, since each machine I deal with
is set up with the same image, then the User Templates will have the same
path. AFAIK, it is something like C:\...\Microsoft\Templates. There seems
to be no way to see the full extended version of this path. However, since
we are dealing with a large network, obviously the Users templates should be
on a network server drive. That is where they are currently.

The problem is I guess that each version of Word (which is on the
workstations) would have to be manually changed to the correct path? I take
it there is no short cut for this? Only wishing. That looks like being a
big job for the system administrators.

Can you explain to me the difference between user templates and workgroup
templates?

Thankyou.
dixie

An installed template is a template or addin installed in the User
Templates, Workgroup Templates or Startup Templates.
http://www.gmayor.com/Template_Locations.htm
A template can be used wherever it is stored, but it will only be
installed if placed in one of the defined folders as you surmise.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

OK, I follow that, but what is meant by an installed template? How
do you install a template as opposed to just having a number of them
somewhere in a folder on the system. Does that mean that they have
to be specifically placed in one of the paths that is in Option Files
as either User Templatess or Workgroup Templates?

dixie

The registry key in question is

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Data\Settings

This is a user key, binary and non-editable, which contains most of
the settings in tools > options and a few other things besides.. The
only practical way to set it is through tools > options > security >
macro security > trusted publishers > trust all installed templates
and add-ins. If you cannot attend the sites, the easiest plan will be to
instruct
the users to set this option.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>


Dixie wrote:
The second option is not possible as the sites are spread over a
distance of more than 1200km. As you can tell, I am not a Word
person Graham, what do you mean by the "Word data key settings sub
key "? Is this an easy thing to set?

NO! NO! NO!
Do *NOT* set the security of your users PCs to low. This will open
the door to macro viruses and is not necessary for what you want to
achieve. You need to set the user's PCs to trust installed
templates and add-ins. This (and the macro security) is set from
the Word data key settings sub key along with a load of other
settings. This binary key does not lend itself to manual manipulation
in the
manner you imagine. You are either going to have to instruct the
users how to set macro
security to trust installed templates and add-ins, or do what the
company is paying you for and adjust each one yourself.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Dixie wrote:
I need to change the security of Word 2003 to allow it to enable
macros in templates in a large site with dozens of computers. Every
computer has Word's default security set to high. I have
come up with this registry patch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Security]
"Level"=dword:00000001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the key by watching what key changed in the registry when
I lowered the security of Word manually. Now I am really
perplexed. If I run this registry patch, it changes the key shown
from 3 (high) to 1 (low), just as doing it manually via Word
does. However, when you go back into Word, the Security is still
set to high, even though the Level is set to 1 in the registry.
Surely I am missing something here. The registry key responds to
changing the macro security in Word, but Word does not respond to
having the key changed from outside.
Can anyone please help with this, as this key is on
HKEY_CURRENT_USER, which means in the network environment it is
in, it has to be done once for each person using each
workstation. This is a very large manual task.
TIA
dixie

 

[Graham Mayor]

The user templates folder (which contains the essential user file
normal.dot) is usually best located on the local machine. Normal.dot is not
designed to be shared.

Workgroup templates are document templates intended to be shared. This can
be a common folder on a network resource. As far as the user is concerned,
the two types integrate seamlessly.


--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Good, now I'm starting to understand. Now, since each machine I deal
with is set up with the same image, then the User Templates will have
the same path. AFAIK, it is something like
C:\...\Microsoft\Templates. There seems to be no way to see the full
extended version of this path. However, since we are dealing with a
large network, obviously the Users templates should be on a network
server drive. That is where they are currently.
The problem is I guess that each version of Word (which is on the
workstations) would have to be manually changed to the correct path? I
take it there is no short cut for this? Only wishing. That looks
like being a big job for the system administrators.

Can you explain to me the difference between user templates and
workgroup templates?

Thankyou.
dixie

An installed template is a template or addin installed in the User
Templates, Workgroup Templates or Startup Templates.
http://www.gmayor.com/Template_Locations.htm
A template can be used wherever it is stored, but it will only be
installed if placed in one of the defined folders as you surmise.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

OK, I follow that, but what is meant by an installed template? How
do you install a template as opposed to just having a number of them
somewhere in a folder on the system. Does that mean that they have
to be specifically placed in one of the paths that is in Option
Files as either User Templatess or Workgroup Templates?

dixie

The registry key in question is

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Data\Settings

This is a user key, binary and non-editable, which contains most of
the settings in tools > options and a few other things besides..
The only practical way to set it is through tools > options >
security > macro security > trusted publishers > trust all
installed templates and add-ins. If you cannot attend the sites, the
easiest plan will
be to instruct
the users to set this option.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>


Dixie wrote:
The second option is not possible as the sites are spread over a
distance of more than 1200km. As you can tell, I am not a Word
person Graham, what do you mean by the "Word data key settings sub
key "? Is this an easy thing to set?

NO! NO! NO!
Do *NOT* set the security of your users PCs to low. This will
open the door to macro viruses and is not necessary for what you
want to achieve. You need to set the user's PCs to trust
installed templates and add-ins. This (and the macro security) is set
from
the Word data key settings sub key along with a load of other
settings. This binary key does not lend itself to manual
manipulation in the
manner you imagine. You are either going to have to instruct the
users how to set macro
security to trust installed templates and add-ins, or do what the
company is paying you for and adjust each one yourself.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Dixie wrote:
I need to change the security of Word 2003 to allow it to enable
macros in templates in a large site with dozens of computers.
Every computer has Word's default security set to high. I have
come up with this registry patch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Security]
"Level"=dword:00000001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the key by watching what key changed in the registry
when I lowered the security of Word manually. Now I am really
perplexed. If I run this registry patch, it changes the key
shown from 3 (high) to 1 (low), just as doing it manually via
Word does. However, when you go back into Word, the Security is
still set to high, even though the Level is set to 1 in the
registry. Surely I am missing something here. The registry key
responds to changing the macro security in Word, but Word does
not respond to having the key changed from outside.
Can anyone please help with this, as this key is on
HKEY_CURRENT_USER, which means in the network environment it is
in, it has to be done once for each person using each
workstation. This is a very large manual task.
TIA
dixie

 

[Dixie]

Thankyou Graham. I appreciate your help.

dixie

The user templates folder (which contains the essential user file
normal.dot) is usually best located on the local machine. Normal.dot is
not designed to be shared.

Workgroup templates are document templates intended to be shared. This can
be a common folder on a network resource. As far as the user is concerned,
the two types integrate seamlessly.


--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Good, now I'm starting to understand. Now, since each machine I deal
with is set up with the same image, then the User Templates will have
the same path. AFAIK, it is something like
C:\...\Microsoft\Templates. There seems to be no way to see the full
extended version of this path. However, since we are dealing with a
large network, obviously the Users templates should be on a network
server drive. That is where they are currently.
The problem is I guess that each version of Word (which is on the
workstations) would have to be manually changed to the correct path? I
take it there is no short cut for this? Only wishing. That looks
like being a big job for the system administrators.

Can you explain to me the difference between user templates and
workgroup templates?

Thankyou.
dixie

An installed template is a template or addin installed in the User
Templates, Workgroup Templates or Startup Templates.
http://www.gmayor.com/Template_Locations.htm
A template can be used wherever it is stored, but it will only be
installed if placed in one of the defined folders as you surmise.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Dixie wrote:
OK, I follow that, but what is meant by an installed template? How
do you install a template as opposed to just having a number of them
somewhere in a folder on the system. Does that mean that they have
to be specifically placed in one of the paths that is in Option
Files as either User Templatess or Workgroup Templates?

dixie

The registry key in question is

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Data\Settings

This is a user key, binary and non-editable, which contains most of
the settings in tools > options and a few other things besides..
The only practical way to set it is through tools > options >
security > macro security > trusted publishers > trust all
installed templates and add-ins. If you cannot attend the sites, the
easiest plan will
be to instruct
the users to set this option.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>


Dixie wrote:
The second option is not possible as the sites are spread over a
distance of more than 1200km. As you can tell, I am not a Word
person Graham, what do you mean by the "Word data key settings sub
key "? Is this an easy thing to set?

NO! NO! NO!
Do *NOT* set the security of your users PCs to low. This will
open the door to macro viruses and is not necessary for what you
want to achieve. You need to set the user's PCs to trust
installed templates and add-ins. This (and the macro security) is
set from
the Word data key settings sub key along with a load of other
settings. This binary key does not lend itself to manual
manipulation in the
manner you imagine. You are either going to have to instruct the
users how to set macro
security to trust installed templates and add-ins, or do what the
company is paying you for and adjust each one yourself.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Dixie wrote:
I need to change the security of Word 2003 to allow it to enable
macros in templates in a large site with dozens of computers.
Every computer has Word's default security set to high. I have
come up with this registry patch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Security]
"Level"=dword:00000001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the key by watching what key changed in the registry
when I lowered the security of Word manually. Now I am really
perplexed. If I run this registry patch, it changes the key
shown from 3 (high) to 1 (low), just as doing it manually via
Word does. However, when you go back into Word, the Security is
still set to high, even though the Level is set to 1 in the
registry. Surely I am missing something here. The registry key
responds to changing the macro security in Word, but Word does
not respond to having the key changed from outside.
Can anyone please help with this, as this key is on
HKEY_CURRENT_USER, which means in the network environment it is
in, it has to be done once for each person using each
workstation. This is a very large manual task.
TIA
dixie