• Created by Unknown User (rmw6), last modified on Nov 11, 2014

You are viewing an old version of this page. View the current version.

Compare with Current View Page History

« Previous Version 3 Next »

Background

Macros can add a wide variety of custom behavior to Microsoft Excel workbooks, but they also pose a potential security risk. Consequently, each version of Excel has provided ways for users to enable or disable macros by setting the desired level of macro security from Very High to Low; the initial “default” setting provides a relatively high level of protection.

We have provided several custom operations in the Option B Excel eForms for your convenience. These function all require that macros be enabled. The process for enabling macros depends upon the version of Excel and whether the workbook has been digitally signed.

 

Excel 2000 through Excel 2003 have four macro security levels.

To change the macro security level

  1. Start Excel.
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Macro and click Security.
  3. In the Security dialog box, click the Security Level tab.
  4. Select the desired macro security setting and then click OK. (Use either Medium or High for Option B.)
  5. Close Excel. (The security-level changes will not take effect until Excel is restarted).

To enable macros in the Option B workbooks

With macro security set to either High or Medium:

  1. Start the Option B program.

    If this is the first time you have used the program, you will need to fill in some identifying and contact information on the registration form.

  2. Choose the type of form and open a Blank Form or reopen a previously saved Existing Form.

  3. When Excel 2000 (or 2002, 2003) starts, you will be presented with a Security Warning dialog box. It should indicate that the workbook contains macros by Cornell University.
    • If macro security is set to High, you may only enable macros from trusted publishers. The Enable Macros button is disabled until you check “Always trust macros from this publisher”. Check the box, then select Enable Macros.

    • If macro security is set to Medium, you have two choices:

      • Recommended: Check “Always trust macros from this publisher”, then select Enable Macros.
      • Leave “Always trust macros from this publisher” unchecked and select Enable Macros This approach enable macros only for this workbook and only for this session. You will need to enable macros every time you open an Option B workbook.

       

      If you check “Always trust macros from this publisher”,you only need to do this once; from then on, all Option B forms should open with macros enabled.

Beginning with Excel 2007, there are still four security levels but their meanings are subtly different from those in Excel 2003 and earlier.

To change the macro security level

  1. Start Excel.
  2. Click the Office Button (the Windows™ logo in the upper left corner).
  3. Select the Excel Options button.
  4. In the left pane of the Excel Options dialog, select Trust Center.
  5. Click the Trust Center Settings button in the right pane.
  6. In the left pane of the Trust Center dialog, select Macro Settings.
  7. In the right pane, select the desired macro security setting. (Use either of the middle two settings; it does not matter for Option B.)
  8. Click OK to close the Trust Center; click OK to close Excel Options.
  • No labels