TurboLaw Document Software Help Center

How do I enable macros?

Details:

TurboLaw documents use macros - therefore, macros always need to be "enabled" for TurboLaw documents to work properly. If macros are disabled, some functions of TurboLaw (such as editing, printing, or saving) will not work. Having macros enabled makes TurboLaw much easier to use.

Sometimes, however, macros can become disabled for various reasons. This article describes how to make sure that your macros are always enabled (when possible) and how to make sure you have the option to enable macros if they can't be automatically enabled for you.

Resolution:

In addition to their macros, all TurboLaw documents are digitally signed so that Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel will allow their macros to run without having to prompt you each time you use a document. However, digital certificates in older documents do eventually expire (making them "invalid"), and some situations can arise where Microsoft Word and Excel don't recognize the digital certificate used in TurboLaw documents. Because of these situations, you may need to "enable" macros yourself.

NOTE: The steps for enabling macros vary depending on whether you are using Word 2007 or an earlier version of Word. Be sure to follow the steps for the version of Word you are using!

For Word 2003 or earlier:

The first step to make sure your macros are enabled is to tell Microsoft Word and Excel that you "trust" the macros that have been signed by TurboLaw (Promethean Software Corporation). This will allow the macros to be enabled automatically, without requiring you to enable them every time.

A quick and easy way to do this is to open the TurboLaw Readme file, which is a Word document that is also digitally signed by TurboLaw. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Before beginning, close and save any documents you have open. If you use Microsoft Outlook for your email, make sure it is closed as well before beginning these steps.
  2. On your Start menu, click All Programs > TurboLaw > TurboLaw Readme.
  3. This will cause Microsoft Word to open. Before the document appears, you will be prompted to enable macros. Depending on your security settings, you may be able to check a box which says either "Always trust macros from this source" or "Always trust macros from this publisher." Be sure to check this box! Once this box is checked, you may click the button which reads "Enable Macros."
  4. You will now see a dialog box which says "Thank you for enabling macros." You can click "OK" to this dialog.
  5. Click the Tools menu in Microsoft Word and click Macro > Security.
  6. Make sure your macro security level is set to Medium. If you have it set to High, then Word may sometimes disable macros for you, without giving you an option to enable them. (If your macro security level has been set to "low", check with your computer or IT manager to make sure this is the correct setting for your office - as the "low" setting is generally not recommended.) When you are done, click "OK" to close the window.
  7. Close Microsoft Word (you must close Microsoft Word for the changes to take effect).
  8. Sometimes you need to enable macros for Microsoft Excel as well. The steps are very similar: first open Microsoft Excel.
  9. Click the Tools menu in Microsoft Excel and click Macro > Security.
  10. Make sure your macro security level is set to Medium. When you are done, click "OK" to close the window.
  11. Close Microsoft Excel for the changes to take effect.

Now, whenever you open a TurboLaw document, if the digital certificate is recognized, the macros will be enabled automatically (you don't need to do anything). If for some reason the digital certificate is not recognized, you will be prompted and can choose to enable the macros.

For Word 2007:

The first step to make sure your macros are enabled is to tell Microsoft Word and Excel that you "trust" the macros that have been signed by TurboLaw (Promethean Software Corporation). This will allow the macros to be enabled automatically, without requiring you to enable them every time.

A quick and easy way to do this is to open the TurboLaw Readme file, which is a Word document that is also digitally signed by TurboLaw. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. If you use Microsoft Outlook for your email, make sure it is closed before beginning these steps.
  2. On your Start menu, click All Programs > TurboLaw > TurboLaw Readme.
  3. This will cause Microsoft Word to open. When the document opens, you will see a bar appear near the top of the window which says "Security Warning" with an "Options" button. Click the Options button.
    Word 2007 Macro Security Warning
    If you do not see this message, see the article: Macro Warning does not appear in Word 2007, but macros are disabled.
  4. In the window which appears, choose the option to Trust all documents from this publisher, then click OK.
    Word 2007 Macro Security Settings
  5. You will now see a dialog box which says "Thank you for enabling macros." You can click "OK" to this dialog.
  6. Close Microsoft Word for the changes to take effect.

Now, whenever you open a document, Microsoft Word will enable the macros automatically. If for some reason the macros cannot be enabled automatically, you will see the Security Warning message. You will be able to click the Options button and enable the macros.

Related Problems:

This is a list of problems that are related to macros.

If you are receiving prompts to enable macros along with a warning that the digital certificate has expired in the file "turbolaw.dot", see this article: Message about "Digital Certificate has expired" when opening Word, Excel or Outlook.

If you are using Word 2007, but the "Security Warning" bar does not appear (even though you know macros are being disabled), see this article: Macro Warning does not appear in Word 2007, but macros are disabled.

If you receive a prompt to enable macros every time you open Microsoft Word (even if you are not working on a TurboLaw document), and you have already "trusted" the TurboLaw certificate, see this article: "Enable Macros" prompt appears even though macros are enabled.

If you are using Word 2000 and are receiving a message about "You have modified a signed project," see this article: Warning message: "You have modified a signed project. You do not have the right key to sign this project. The signature will be discarded."

If you receive a "digital certificate has expired" warning whenever you open Microsoft Word, Excel, or Outlook, see this article: Message about "Digital Certificate has expired" when opening Word, Excel or Outlook.

Article number: TL00097

Product: TurboLaw Document Software

Applies to version: 2.00

Article added on: 04-25-2006

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