WD97: How to Use, Disable Protection Furnished by Protection.doc

Last reviewed: February 11, 1998
Article ID: Q166019
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

Protection.doc is a document that furnishes macro virus protection by locking the macro project for the Normal template.

NOTE: When first released, this document was named Autoprotect.doc.

You can find Protection.doc the Microsoft Web site at the following address:

   http://www.microsoft.com/office/antivirus/word/normaldot.htm

MORE INFORMATION

Once the Normal project is locked, a password must be supplied before changes can be made to the project. You cannot view, edit, or add macros while the project is locked. This will prevent a macro included in a document or template from modifying the Normal template without the user furnishing a password.

When any attempt to change the project is made, the user will be prompted for the password. If the password is supplied, the project will be unlocked until Word is restarted. To insure that protection is reset, after a password is used, restart Windows. This will insure that a WordMail stub is not running in the background and preventing Word from shutting down completely.

If you select the document in Explorer (or in My Computer) by single clicking on it, then choose Print from the File menu, you will be prompted for a password.

Or if you right-click the document in Explorer or in My Computer and choose Print from the pop out menu, you will be prompted for a password.

But if you double click on the document in Explorer or My Computer, Word will first launch and will not prompt for a password. Then you can issue a print command and you still will not be prompted for a password.

To Use Protection.doc

  1. Quit Word if it is running.

  2. Start your Internet browser and connect to the following Address:

          http://www.microsoft.com/office/antivirus/word/normaldot.htm
    

  3. Read the "Virus Protection for the Normal.dot in Word 97" page.

  4. Under Directions, click Virus Protection Macro.

  5. If you are presented with the following message

          This document contains macros. Some macros may contain harmful
          viruses.
    

          If you are sure this document is from a trusted source, click Yes. If
          you are not sure and want to prevent any macros from running, click
          No.
    

    click "Yes" to allow Microsoft to set macro protection on your Normal template

    A new document will be displayed titled "Microsoft Protection for Normal.dot." Read the "END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR MICROSOFT SOFTWARE" section before proceeding.

  6. If you accept the terms, click the "Accept" button. If you do not accept the terms, click the "Do Not Accept" button.

  7. In the AutoProtection dialog box that is displayed, type a password in the "Enter new password" box.

  8. Press TAB, retype your password in the Confirm Password box, and click OK.

    The AutoProtection Installed dialog box appears.

  9. Click Restart Windows.

After your system is restarted, your Normal template in Word will be protected against any unwanted macro changes.

To Manually Set the Protection

This level of protection may also be accomplished by setting the properties of the normal project in the Visual Basic for Applications Editor. To do this, use the following steps:

  1. Start Word if it is not currently running.

  2. On the Tools menu, point to Macros and then click "Visual Basic Editor".

  3. Click the Normal project in the project window to select it.

  4. On the Tools menu, click Project Properties.

  5. From the "Project--Project Properties" dialog box, click the Protection tab.

  6. Click to select the "Lock project for viewing" check box.

  7. Press TAB and then type a password in the Password box.

  8. Press TAB again, and then retype your password in the Confirm Password box. Click OK.

  9. On the File menu, click "Close and Return to Microsoft Word".

  10. Quit Word and Windows and restart your system.

NOTE: Macro protection will not be active until you restart your system.

Other Protection

This level of protection does not eliminate the need for the general "Macro Virus Protection" offered by Word. Microsoft recommends that both features be used to protect Word against macro viruses. To set the general "Macro Virus Protection" feature in Word:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options

  2. Click the General tab

  3. Click to select the "Macro Virus Protection" check box.

  4. Click OK.

NOTE: This option warns you when you open a document or template that contains macros.

To Permanently Remove the Lock Protection From Your Normal Template:

  1. Start Word if it is not currently running.

  2. On the Tools menu, point to Macros and then click Visual Basic Editor.

  3. Click the Normal project in the project window to select it.

  4. On the Tools menu, click Normal Properties.

  5. Enter your password and click OK.

  6. From the "Project - Project Properties" dialog box, click the Protection tab.

  7. Click to clear the "Lock project for viewing" check box.

  8. Click OK.

  9. On the File menu, click "Close and Return to Microsoft Word."

  10. Press and hold SHIFT and click the File menu. Click Save All.

    NOTE: If you receive a message asking if you want to save changes to your global template, click Yes.

For additional information on macro viruses, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163932
   TITLE     : Frequently Asked Questions About Word Macro Viruses
Keywords          : kbtemplate kbwordvba winword word8 word97 kbusage kbfaq
Version           : 97
Platform          : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type        : kbhowto


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Last reviewed: February 11, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.