Word 2003 Macro frustration

[KeithM]

I have spent most of today happily extending a Word 2003 template I have
("MYTemplate.dot") which contains an AutoNew macro plus various other
macros. I have been using the Visual Basic Editor to do this (Alt-F11).

I test my changes by saving the template, using explorer to then double
click on the saved templete. This then opens word with a new document based
on that template. Marvellous, fine, happy.
Now, in the last hour word has suddenly started displaying a message box
saying "The macros in this project are disabled. Please refer to ....etc"
I've online looked into it and its saying I now need digital signatures!
Why? why was it working ok all day and now gone wrong?
How can I get back to where I was earlier today?

I dont want to use digital signatues as the template I use is distributed
round the office and SelfCert digi signatures will ony work on one machine
apparently.

But like I say we have been using this template for months now until today I
get this problem

Any help gratefully received!

 

[SvenC]

HI KeithM,

I have spent most of today happily extending a Word 2003 template I
have ("MYTemplate.dot") which contains an AutoNew macro plus various
other macros. I have been using the Visual Basic Editor to do this
(Alt-F11).

Now, in the last hour word has suddenly started displaying a message
box saying "The macros in this project are disabled. Please refer to

Lower your Macro security. I am running word 2007, so I am not sure about
the exact menu position. Something like Tools->Macros->Security.
You should find the default option which requires signed macros but you
can lower it to ask for all macros if it is ok to execute them.

 

[Jialiang Ge [MSFT]]

Hello KeithM,

From your post, my understanding on this issue is: you wonder how to handle
the Word 2003 message "The macros in this project have been disabled" when
you open a Word 2003 template file with macros in it, which originally
worked well without the macro disabled message. If I'm off base, please
feel free to let me know.

According to the KB article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316731/en-us
There can be five reasons for the Word 2003 message, and several
resolutions for each cause. Based on my experience, the cause 5 (A template
that contains macros is in an untrusted location, such as the Office
startup folder) is more likely to explain the problem in this case, and we
can try its corresponding resolution (Method 6) prior to others.

Please first verify whether the macro security setting is indeed set to
high (Tool->Macro->Security), and please set it to Medium if you do not
want to add digital signatures to your macros. If this does not help, we
need to check other causes listed in the KB article, and try their
resolutions.

If you have any other concerns or questions, feel free to let me know.

Regards,
Jialiang Ge ([email protected], remove 'online.')
Microsoft Online Community Support

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[KeithM]

Hello KeithM,

From your post, my understanding on this issue is: you wonder how to
handle
the Word 2003 message "The macros in this project have been disabled" when
you open a Word 2003 template file with macros in it, which originally
worked well without the macro disabled message. If I'm off base, please
feel free to let me know.

This is correct.

According to the KB article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316731/en-us
There can be five reasons for the Word 2003 message, and several
resolutions for each cause. Based on my experience, the cause 5 (A
template
that contains macros is in an untrusted location, such as the Office
startup folder) is more likely to explain the problem in this case, and we
can try its corresponding resolution (Method 6) prior to others.

Please first verify whether the macro security setting is indeed set to
high (Tool->Macro->Security), and please set it to Medium if you do not
want to add digital signatures to your macros. If this does not help, we
need to check other causes listed in the KB article, and try their
resolutions.

I have tried the macro security setting on both 'medium' and 'low' and
neither had any effect.*

*Further Note: I have since re tried this. This time I set the setting to
Medium, and closed the "document 1" that Word had brought up when I double
clicked the template. This time however I also closed the Word window that
had mytemplate.dot in it.
when I now double click the template, Word was slower launching and then
brought up a dialog asking me if I wanted to trust macros from this source.
I have obviously said yes.

This allows me to continue developing but does not explain why the problem
initially appeared after I had been working all day without this problem. I
also fear that when I hand out the template to our other office developers,
there will be further problems.

Thanks

 

[SvenC]

Hi KeithM,

*Further Note: I have since re tried this. This time I set the
setting to Medium, and closed the "document 1" that Word had brought
up when I double clicked the template. This time however I also
closed the Word window that had mytemplate.dot in it.
when I now double click the template, Word was slower launching and
then brought up a dialog asking me if I wanted to trust macros from
this source. I have obviously said yes.

This allows me to continue developing but does not explain why the
problem initially appeared after I had been working all day without
this problem. I also fear that when I hand out the template to our
other office developers, there will be further problems.

When you create a new macro it is always allowed to run. Only when
the office app is restarted and an existing macro is found the security
settings take effect.

 

[KeithM]

The office app has been restarted many times over the months that my
template has been working fine.

 

[SvenC]

Hi Keith,

The office app has been restarted many times over the months that my
template has been working fine.

That is indeed strange. Did you maybe install a security patch witch has
tightened the security of Office macros?

 

[Jialiang Ge [MSFT]]

Hello KeithM,

Let me clarify it.

1. "I have tried the macro security setting on both 'medium' and 'low' and
neither had any effect."
Office requires reloading (close, then re-open) the active documents after
we change the macro security setting, so that the new security setting can
apply to these documents that are already opened. Therefore, if we do not
reload the documents after we lower the security setting, their macros will
still be disabled, and give the illusion that the security setting does not
take effect. Is this explanation clear for you?

2. Why does the macros work well without security warnings in the past, but
require security checking now?
In my best guess, there are at least two possible reasons:

A. In the past, your Word macro security setting was "low". "low" means
Word will trust all the macros and will not ask for security permission
interactively.
But by any chances (e.g. Word settings were restored from Word Help ->
Detect and Repair -> Discard my customized settings and restore default
settings, or another user of the computer changed the Word macro security),
the macro security setting was set to "high", then the warning message
appears. Please also note that the macro security setting is an application
level setting, so anyone who's given proper permissions to use the computer
may change it and influence the other users.

B. Is it possible that the template or the macro project had been
digitally signed (but you did not notice it), then the digital signature
was removed by any chances?
See how to digitally sign a file or macro project:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HP052495571033.aspx

All in all, I am very sure that when macro security level is high, only
signed macros from trusted sources will be allowed to run. The warning
message "The macros in this project have been disabled" will appear for
other unsigned macros. When macro security setting is set to Medium, Word
will ask for permission to enable macros interactively. Last, when security
level is low, all macros can run freely. Am I clear enough for this point?

3. When we set the security level as Medium, when is Word slower to load
the document before "Enable/Disable macro" dialog appears?
It is partially because Word needs to detect and do some simple security
checking for all the macros available to this document before it can decide
whether or not to show the "Enable/Disable macro" dialog.

I am not sure if my clarifications above (1, 2, 3) have covered all your
questions. If you have any other concerns, feel free to let me know.

Regards,
Jialiang Ge ([email protected], remove 'online.')
Microsoft Online Community Support

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Delighting our customers is our #1 priority. We welcome your comments and
suggestions about how we can improve the support we provide to you. Please
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This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
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[Jialiang Ge [MSFT]]

Sorry for a typo in my last reply:

"3. When we set the security level as Medium, when is Word slower to load
the document before "Enable/Disable macro" dialog appears?"

The second "when" should be "why":

3. When we set the security level as Medium, why is Word slower to load the
document before "Enable/Disable macro" dialog appears? ...

Regards,
Jialiang Ge ([email protected], remove 'online.')
Microsoft Online Community Support

=================================================
Delighting our customers is our #1 priority. We welcome your comments and
suggestions about how we can improve the support we provide to you. Please
feel free to let my manager know what you think of the level of service
provided. You can send feedback directly to my manager at:
(e-mail address removed).

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
=================================================

 

[KeithM]

I know that the template file with my macro in it did not have a digital
signature. This is because I created the template last year.

My only theory based on your input was that the macro security setting was
set to low and that using some shortcut key stroke by mistake I have turned
the setting to high without realising. This as far as I can see is the only
way to explain the sudden appearance of the fault.

Everything is now working again anyway.

Thanks.

 

[Jialiang Ge [MSFT]]

You are welcome, Keith. There can be other reasons for the unexpected
change of the security setting. If you feel it very necessary to figure out
the root cause of the change, let me know.

In addition, I'd thank SvenC for his great inputs in this post. I
appreciate your time and efforts working with us.

Have a great day!

Regards,
Jialiang Ge ([email protected], remove 'online.')
Microsoft Online Community Support

=================================================
Delighting our customers is our #1 priority. We welcome your comments and
suggestions about how we can improve the support we provide to you. Please
feel free to let my manager know what you think of the level of service
provided. You can send feedback directly to my manager at:
(e-mail address removed).

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
=================================================