Solve macro protection annoyance

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gardenerstouch - 12 Oct 2007 08:46 GMT

Recently, I included a macro in my favorite spread sheet. Unfortunately,
this macro triggers the macro protection features in Excel 2002. Now I'm
really getting tired of closing that damned warning box. I suppose I could
delete it, but the macro makes it possible for me easily see the currently
active cell. I honestly cannot do without it. Another option would be to
lower my security to "low", but the consequences of running a bad macro
could be disastrous. So I have searched the net for answers. The answer
seems to be to digitally sign my macro with some applets included in the
Windows XP Platform Software Developers Kit. After trolling endlessly at
Windows Downloads, I cannot find a link to download it. Can anyone help me
here?

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Harald Staff - 12 Oct 2007 10:03 GMT

You can create a signature with a small program called "selfcert.exe" . This
is either installed with office (search for it) or on your office
installation cd.

HTH. Best wishes Harald

> Recently, I included a macro in my favorite spread sheet. Unfortunately,
> this macro triggers the macro protection features in Excel 2002. Now I'm
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Windows Downloads, I cannot find a link to download it. Can anyone help
> me here?

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gardenerstouch - 13 Oct 2007 04:44 GMT

Already tried that. Because it is self signed, it can be forged, and is
still recognized as unsafe by Excel's Macro protection feature. From what I
have read, I have to sign it using a program called "makecert.exe", an
applet found as part of the Windows XP Software Development Kit. I can then
use another set of programs (also part of the kit) that can convert that
cert to a form acceptable to Excel.

> You can create a signature with a small program called "selfcert.exe" .
> This is either installed with office (search for it) or on your office
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>> trolling endlessly at Windows Downloads, I cannot find a link to download
>> it. Can anyone help me here?

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gardenerstouch - 13 Oct 2007 06:25 GMT

Ok Harold... you were right. Heretofore, Excel never displayed a warning
dialog box with the option to "Always trust macros from this source". I
also found the following knowledge base article at MS that was most helpful:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Aa163622(office.10).aspx#odc_dsvba_selfcert

Be advised that the link under "Microsoft Authenticode" is broken, but if
what you want to do is sign your own macro, this should be no impediment.

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