How to Change the Macro Security Setting in Excel

The Excel eForms contain macros which need to be enabled for the program to function properly. When opening a new eForm in versions prior to Excel 2007, a message box will ask you if you want to enable or disable the macros—select Enable.

Excel 2000, 2002 and 2003 have the default macro setting set to High, which automatically disables the macros. You need to change this setting to Medium. After you have made the change, Excel will prompt you to enable or disable macros each time you open a workbook. To change the settings, perform one of the following actions listed below.

Excel 2000

To set the macro security level to Medium, which only needs to be done once, follow these steps:

  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. Click Medium and then click OK.
  5. Save your work and then close Excel. (The security-level changes will not take effect until Excel is restarted.)
  6. (Re)Open the Option B form from the desktop. When prompted whether to enable or disable macros, click Enable Macros.
Return to Option B instructions.

Excel 2002 & 2003

To set the macro security level to Medium, which only needs to be done once, follow these steps:

  1. Start Excel.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. Click on the Security tab (upper right hand corner).
  4. In the Security dialog box, click the Macro Security button.
  5. Click Medium and then click OK.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Save your work and then close Excel. (The security-level changes will not take effect until Excel is restarted.)
  8. (Re)Open the Option B form from the desktop. When prompted whether to enable or disable macros, click Enable Macros.
Return to Option B instructions.

Excel 2007

Users of Excel 2007 do not have to change the security settings from the default settings. However they do need to enable the active content the first time they open one of our forms. Excel 2007 users should upgrade to a version of the software released after December 16, 2008. If you have any questions about security for this Excel version, please contact us.

To enable active content locate the Message Bar in the header area of the form. It is labelled "Security Warning Some active content has been disabled". Next, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Options button at the end of the Message Bar.
  2. Click Trust all documents from this publisher
  3. Click Ok
Return to Option B instructions.