Macro security is killing me

[roscoe]

I have an expense report template I built in Office 2003 with macros that I share with coworkers. When I shared it, some folks had macro security issues. Some work in an environment where they can't change the security settings (government offices for example). Since I did also I was able to use my govt PKI signature to sign it. Befoer that though I created my own signature. I was told (but could not verify) that folks could add that to their trusted list and not be asked anymore.

Just upgraded to 2007 and suddenly things are wonky. I tried to add my signature and Excel won't let me. No reason, just says it couldn't. So I used the help file to figure out how to create a new one, and it refers to a dialog box I can't get to (apparently pops up when you don't have a signature, but I have two...one is the one that doesn't work and I'd like to delete if I could figure out how, and the other is expiring in a few days so I'd rather not use it).

Could really use some guidance here...

Next question...I was using macros on another computer and when I opened the file I was given the coice of turning on the macros or not. My current computer doesn't ahve that option. It either turns them off (no option to overide) or turns all macros on (not safe and not what I want). How/where do I find the option to temporarily disable until I click enable? Seen it, know it exists, can't find it now.

Thanks!

 

[roscoe]

In the lower left of the status bar where it says "ready". Do you see an icon that is supposed to be a worksheet being stamped with a red stamp? And when you hover it says "marked as final"?

Nope. I see "ready", "calculate", a ribbon showing that there are signatures, and a spreadsheet symbol that is telling me that no macros are recording. Nothing indicating final.

 

[Greg Truby]

Well, shoot! I really thought clicking

• Office Button
• Prepare
• Mark as Final

would do the trick. You might try anyway, but I doubt that will solve the problem.

I fear I have not run across this before and I'm out of ideas. I send up a flare to the other MVP's in case one of them has any ideas.

 

[Greg Truby]

Stupid question time... I don't see where you tried a simple "save as..." and save the file with a new name and/or different file type (say like Excel 95). Did you tell us you already tried that?

 

[roscoe]

You only asked me if it was final, you didn't suggest I try that.

Guess what...IT WORKED! WooHoo! You're my hero!

Still need to know to get my machine to give me the choice of running macros or not however...

 

[roscoe]

Stupid question time... I don't see where you tried a simple "save as..." and save the file with a new name and/or different file type (say like Excel 95). Did you tell us you already tried that?

I did, but didn't help. Going final did however

 

[Greg Truby]

You only asked me if it was final, you didn't suggest I try that.

Guess what...IT WORKED! WooHoo! You're my hero!

You're welcome.

Still need to know to get my machine to give me the choice of running macros or not however...

See my post above:

Correct. The functional equivilant of 2003's "medium" is "disable with notification". You should get a security warning bar where you can click the "options..." button and enable the macros.

 

[roscoe]

Can't test it now because all my files are in trusted locations. Let me play with it for a while.

 

[Greg Truby]

Can't test it now because all my files are in trusted locations. Let me play with it for a while.

Erm, I would just

• create a new wb
• insert a module
• sub foo: msgbox "foo": end sub
• save unsigned in MyDocs
• close & reopen from recent docs list

Took me longer to write this post than it would to actually do it...

 

[roscoe]

I uploaded to file to my company website and then opened it from there. It disabled all macros, telling me the signature was invalid. (I thought I had removed all signatures so I'm trully confused).

Either way, the option to enable the macros was not presented to me.

 

[roscoe]

Nope, nothing. No option. Either all macros run (unsafe) or none. Notification merely tells me that I'm screwed, doesn't offer an option.