Macro security

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DKS - 26 Oct 2006 17:28 GMT

Hi,

Currently I have Excel 2003 on XP operating system.

In the past, before migrating to this advanced version, I had macro security
set to MEDIUM whereby everytime I open a spreadsheet that contains macros the
Excel software prompts me if I would like to enable or disable the macros.

With the migration to Excel 2003, I cannot seem to re-establish this
setting. I tried via TOOLS - OPTIONS - SECURITY and I also tried via TOOLS -
MACRO - MACRO SECURITY.

But via both means, after setting the security to MEDIUM, i close .xls and
re-open it using a workbook containing macros and there is absolutely no
prompt. On re-verifying the option settings I discover that it has switched
back to LOW.

How can I permanently re-establish this setting?

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Dave Peterson - 26 Oct 2006 18:52 GMT

This is a setting that's kept in the Windows Registry. If your system
administrators don't want you to save changes there, you'll want to complain to
them. Maybe they can make you the single exception???

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> How can I permanently re-establish this setting?

Signature

Dave Peterson

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Gord Dibben - 26 Oct 2006 20:08 GMT

Excel's macro security level settings are saved in the Registry.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Security

On rightside window Level should be 2 for medium.

Perhaps you do not have sufficient rights to alter the Registry.

Someone with administrator rights may have to make the changes.

Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

>Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
>How can I permanently re-establish this setting?

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DKS - 26 Oct 2006 20:36 GMT

I consulted my registry setting as explained by you i.e.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Security

For LEVEL I see the data as 2, type is REG_DWORD.

I suppose this is what you are referring to? If that is the case, then how
come I do not get a prompt asking me to ENABLE or DISABLE macros or NOT TO
OPEN the file?

Thanks in anticipation.

> Excel's macro security level settings are saved in the Registry.
>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> >
> >How can I permanently re-establish this setting?

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Gord Dibben - 26 Oct 2006 22:15 GMT

The entire DWORD value looks like 0x00000002(2)

If that is the case then I don't know why your Excel keeps defaulting to "Low"

In Excel Tools>Options>Security set the level to "medium" then close Excel.

Re-open.

Has the setting stuck?

Gord

>I consulted my registry setting as explained by you i.e.
>
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>> >
>> >How can I permanently re-establish this setting?

Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

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DKS - 27 Oct 2006 09:21 GMT

Yes, the setting is exactly as you mention.

Thanks for the help, but it seems that I am once again stuck with a
completely abnormal situation. FYI: I did change the security setting as you
requested, closed Excel, restarted excel and the setting is back to LOW.

> The entire DWORD value looks like 0x00000002(2)
>
[quoted text clipped - 52 lines]
>
> Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

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Gord Dibben - 27 Oct 2006 22:29 GMT

Shrug......slap forehead.......and leave.

I don't know what's happening.

Will keep playing and might come up with something.

I googled the Excel groups and all I could find was basically same as Dave's and
my own thoughts.

Gord

>Yes, the setting is exactly as you mention.
>
[quoted text clipped - 58 lines]
>>
>> Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

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Dave Peterson - 27 Oct 2006 23:57 GMT

I've seen a couple of posts that describe a problem that the user couldn't
change the setting in xl2003 via the user interface because it was greyed out.

But this doesn't sound like the same situation as the OP's.

Here's one by Jan Karel Pieterse

==================

> if you are using Excel 2003 the box in
> macro security options is greyed out.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Security
> Add or Change a DWORD named AccessVBOM to Value 1

Changing the registry value changes the setting, but it stays grey.

Removing the registry entry effectively gives the control back to
Excel.

So: If you add that registry entry, the only way to change the "trust
access to VB projects" setting is by either removing the entry (and
then change it in Excel), or by changing it in the registry.

Sounds like an administrator sort of reg entry to enforce a security
setting on users.

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
http://www.jkp-ads.com

==============
Maybe DKS can look for entry in the registry.

Remember to backup the registry before you turn your pc into a boat anchor!

> Shrug......slap forehead.......and leave.
>
[quoted text clipped - 71 lines]
>
> Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

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Dave Peterson

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