The article looks at how to turn on macros in Excel, explains the basics of macro security and shows how to adjust the security settings to run VBA codes safely.
Like almost any technology, macros can be used for both good and evil. Therefore, in Microsoft Excel, all macros are disabled by default. https://heremfiles971.weebly.com/cssdesigner-4-7-1.html. Espresso 2 2 3 download free. This tutorial covers different ways to enable macros in Excel and explains potential risks associated with that.
- Enable macros for individual workbooks
Macro security in Excel
In the Trust Center dialog box, click Macro Settings in left pane, select the Enable all macros option in the Macro Settings section, and finally click the OK button. When it returns to the Excel Options dialog box, click the OK button. From now on, all macros will run without the warning message.
Before you go enable macros in your worksheets, it's important to understand how dangerous they can possibly be.
Though VBA codes are very effective in automating complex and repetitious tasks, they are a significant source of risk from the security point of view. A malicious macro that you run unwittingly may damage or completely delete files on your hard drive, mess up your data, and even corrupt your Microsoft Office installation. For this reason, Excel's default setting is to disable all macros with notification.
How to avoid these dangers? Just follow one simple rule: enable only safe macros – ones that you've written or recorded yourself, macros from trusted sources, and VBA codes that you have reviewed and fully understand.
How to enable macros for individual workbooks
There are two ways to turn on macros for a certain file: directly from the workbook and through the Backstage view.
How to enable macros for one session. In some situations, it stands to reason to enable macros only for a single time. For example, when you received an Excel file with VBA code that you'd like to investigate, but you do not wish to make this file a trusted document. Microsoft 365 includes premium Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps, 1 TB cloud storage in OneDrive, advanced security, and more, all in one convenient subscription. With Microsoft 365, you get features as soon as they are released ensuring you're always working with the latest. Create, view, edit, and share your spreadsheets using Excel for Mac. Recording a Macro in Excel. Now that we have everything in place, let's learn how to record a macro in Excel. Let's record a very simple macro – one that selects a cell and enters the text ‘Excel' in it. I am using the text ‘Excel' while recording this macro, but feel free to enter your name or any other text that you like.
Enable macros via security warning bar
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With the default macro settings, when you first open a workbook containing macros, the yellow security warning bar appears at the top of the sheet right under the ribbon:
If the Visual Basic Editor is open at the time you are opening the file with macros, the Microsoft Excel Security Notice will be displayed:
If you trust the source of the file and know that all the macros are secure, click the Enable Content or Enable Macros button. This will turn on the macros and make the file a trusted document. The next time you open the workbook, the security warning won't appear.
If the source of the file is unknown and you don't want to enable macros, you can click the 'X' button to close the security warning. The warning will disappear, but macros will remain disabled. Any attempt to run a macro will result in the following message.
If you've disabled macros accidentally, simply re-open the workbook, and then click the Enable Content button on the warning bar.
Turn on macros in Backstage view
Another way to enable macros for a specific workbook is via the Office Backstage view. Here's how:
- Click the File tab, and then click Info in the left menu.
- In the Security Warning area, click Enable Content > Enable All Content.
As with the previous method, your workbook will become a trusted document.
What you should know about trusted documents in Excel
Enabling macros through either a message bar or Backstage view makes the file a trusted document. However, some Excel files cannot be made trusted documents. For examples, files opened from an unsafe location such as the Temp Folder, or if the system administrator has set the security policy in your organization to disable all macros without notification. In such cases, the macros are only enabled for a single time. On the next opening of the file, Excel will prompt you to enable the content again. To avoid this, you can change your Trust Center settings or save the file to a trusted location.
Once a particular workbook becomes a trusted document, there is no way to un-trust it. You can only clear the Trusted Documents list. For this, do the following:
- Click File > Options.
- On the left side, select Trust Center, and then click Trust Center Settings.
- In the Trust Center dialog box, select Trusted Documents on the left.
- Click Clear, and then click OK.
This will make all previously trusted files untrusted. When you open such a file, the security warning will show up.
How to enable macros for one session
In some situations, it stands to reason to enable macros only for a single time. For example, when you received an Excel file with VBA code that you'd like to investigate, but you do not wish to make this file a trusted document.
The following instructions will guide you through the steps to enable macros for the duration that the file is open:
- Click the File tab > Info.
- In the Security Warning area, click Enable Content > Advanced Options.
- In the Microsoft Office Security Options dialog box, select Enable content for this session, and click OK.
This turns on macros for one time. When you close the workbook, and then reopen it, the warning will appear again.
How to enable macros in all workbooks via Trust Center
Microsoft Excel determines whether to allow or disallow VBA codes to run based on the macro setting selected in the Trust Center, which is the place where you configure all the security settings for Excel.
To get macros enabled in all Excel workbooks by default, this is what you need to do:
- Go to the File tab > Options.
- On the left-side pane, select Trust Center, and then click Trust Center Settings… .
- In the Trust Center dialog box, click Macro Settings on the left, select Enable all macros and click OK.
- The option you set via the Trust Center becomes the new default macro setting and applies globally to all of your Excel files. If you want to enable macros for only specific workbooks, save them in a trusted location instead.
- Enabling all macros in all workbooks makes your computer vulnerable to potentially dangerous codes.
Excel macro settings explained
Bellow we will briefly explain all macro settings in the Trust Center to help you make an informed decision:
- Disable all macros without notification - all macros are disabled; no warning will show up. You won't be able to run any macros except the ones stored in trusted locations.
- Disable all macros with notification (default) - macros are disabled, but you can enable them on a case-by-case basis.
- Disable all macros except digitally signed macros – unsigned macros are disabled with notifications. Macros digitally signed with a special certificate by a trusted publisher are allowed to run. If you have not trusted the publisher, Excel will prompt you to trust the publisher and enable the macro.
- Enable all macros (not recommended) - all macros are allowed to run, including potentially malicious codes.
- Trust access to the VBA project object model - this setting controls programmatic access to the object model of Visual Basic for Applications. It's disabled by default to prevent unauthorized programs from changing your macros or building self-replicating harmful codes.
When changing the Trust Center settings, please keep in mind that they apply only to Excel, not to all Office programs.
Enable macros permanently in a trusted location
Instead of manipulating the global macro settings, you can configure Excel to trust specific locations on your computer or local network. Any Excel file in a trusted location opens with macros enabled and without security warnings, even if the Disable all macros without notification option is selected in the Trust Center settings. This lets you run macros in certain workbooks when all other Excel macros are disabled!
An example of such files in the Personal Macro Workbook – all VBA codes in that workbook are available for you to use whenever you start Excel, regardless of your macro settings.
To view the current trusted locations or add a new one, carry out these steps:
- Click File > Options.
- On the left-hand pane, select Trust Center, and then click Trust Center Settings… .
- In the Trust Center dialog box, select Trusted Locations on the left side. You will see a list of the default trusted locations. These locations are important for the correct work of Excel add-ins, macros and templates, and should not be changed. Technically, you can save your workbook to one of the Excel default locations, but it's better to create your own one.
- To set up your trusted location, click Add new location… .
- In the Microsoft Office Trusted Locations dialog box, do the following:
- Click the Browse button to navigate to the folder that you want to make a trusted location.
- If you wish any subfolder of the selected folder to be trusted too, check the Subfolders of this location are also trusted box.
- Type a short notice in the Description field (this can help you manage multiple locations) or leave it empty.
- Click OK.
- Click OK twice to close the remaining dialog boxes.
Done! You can now place your workbook with macros in your own trusted location and do not bother about Excel's security settings.
Tips and notes:- Please be very careful when choosing a trusted location. Because Excel automatically enables all macros in all workbooks that are stored in trusted locations, they become kind of loopholes in your security system, vulnerable to macro viruses and hacking attacks. Never make any temporary folder a trusted source. Also, be cautious with the Documents folder, rather create a subfolder and designate it as a trusted location.
- If you've mistakenly added a certain folder to the list of trusted locations, select it and click the Remove button.
How to enable macros programmatically with VBA
On Excel forums, many people ask if it is possible to enable macros programmatically on opening a workbook and disable them before exiting. The immediate answer is 'No, it's not possible'. Because macro security is critical for the security of Excel, Microsoft designed any VBA code to only be triggered by a user click.
However, when Microsoft closes a door, the user opens a window :) As a workaround, someone suggested a way to force the user to enable macros with a kind of 'splash screen' or 'instruction sheet'. The general idea is as follows:
You write a code that makes all the worksheets but one very hidden (xlSheetVeryHidden). The visible sheet (splash screen) says something like 'Please enable macros and re-open the file' or provides more detailed instructions.
If macros are disabled, the user can only see the 'Splash Screen' worksheet; all other sheets are very hidden.
If macros are enabled, the code unhides all the sheets, and then makes them very hidden again when the workbook closes.
The code examples can be found here and here.
How to disable macros in Excel
As already mentioned, Excel's default setting is to disable macros with notification and allow users to enable them manually if they want to. If you'd like to disable all macros silently, without any notification, then choose the corresponding option (the first one) in the Trust Center.
- In your Excel, click the File tab > Options.
- On the left-side pane, select Trust Center, and then click Trust Center Settings… .
- In the left menu, select Macro Settings, choose Disable all macros without notification, and click OK.
That's how you can enable and disable macros in Excel. I thank you for reading and hope to see you on our blog next week!
You may also be interested in
If you use a lot of VBA codes like me then you need to have a place where you can store all of them and use them whenever you need.
But the question is, what's the best place for this? PERSONAL MACRO WORKBOOK. Yes, that PERSONAL.XLBS workbook. Here's the crazy thing:
Creating a personal macro workbook and storing all the important macros in it can save you a ton of time and help you use them in all Excel files. Adobe pdf reader mac os x.
Isn't that AWESOME?? And today in this post, I'll be sharing with you everything you need to know about this file. So stay with me for the next 3 to 4 minutes.
What is PERSONAL MACRO WORKBOOK
Personal Macro Workbook is a file which can be the common storage place to store your all macros and use them. Although it's a hidden file which opens when you start Excel in your system. And you don't need to open it separately when you want to access any of the codes from it. All the codes from it can be seen in your macro list.
What's the LOCATION of PERSONAL.XLSB Workbook
Here's the bad news: Even though it's such a useful thing to have, it's not there in Excel by default, so you need to create it (I've shared the steps ahead in this post). But, you can check if it is already created or not.
The first method is to open your visual basic editor and if your project window you have listed a 'PERSONAL.XLBS' named file.
That means it's already there and there is no need to create it. The second method is to have a look at your XLSTART folder.
Note: If you put anything thing in the XLSTART folder that will open automatically when you launch Excel. If you are using Windows 10:
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C:UsersPuneet GogiaAppDataRoamingMicrosoftExcelXLSTART
And if you are using MAC: Library ▸ Group Containers ▸ UBF8T346G9.Office ▸ User Content ▸ Startup ▸ Excel
If you aren't able to find your Personal Macro Workbook using these methods then you need to follow the steps I've mentioned ahead to create a new one.
How to Create a Personal Macro Workbook in Excel
Creating a new personal macro workbook is simple. All you need to do is to record a macro, that's it yes, that's it.
Windows Version
Here are the simple steps you need to follow:
- First of all, go to the developer tab and click on the 'Record Macros' button.
- After that, in the 'Record Macro' dialog box:
- Enter a name for the Macro
- In the 'Store macro in', drop down select 'Personal Dialog Box'.
- In the end, click OK.
Now you can record something or you can simply click on 'Stop Recording'.
Your new 'Personal Macro Workbook' created now. You can find the new PERSONAL.XLSB file in the XLSTART folder.
(MAC Version)
Below are the steps to create your Personal Macro Workbook in the MAC version of the Excel.
- First of all, go to the developer tab and click on the 'Record Macro Button'.
- After that, enter the name of the macro and select the 'Personal Macro Workbook' from the drop-down.
- In the end, click OK.
Now you can simply click on 'Stop Recording' as your new personal macro workbook is created.
Why Should I have a Personal Macro Workbook?
This is the real question…
Well, if you love to use macros and have some useful codes which help you do your stuff with a click you must have a Personal Macro Workbook. You can store all those codes your personal workbook and can use them from any workbook on your system.
As I said when you open your Excel the 'PERSONAL.XLSB' open with it so your codes will be accessible all the time when you are using Excel. So having it is a big WIN-WIN.
Can I Share My Personal Macro Workbook with Others?
It happens sometimes when you need to share your macros from Personal Macro Workbook with others or you just need to transfer it to a different system. Now in this situation, you can use do the following things:
(A) Export and Import the Module
The best way to share or transfer your Personal Macro Workbook is to export the VB module from one system and import it in the other system. Below are the steps you can use to do this:
- First, open the VB editor and expand the tree of 'Personal.xlsb' and right click on the module which you want to export.
- Now, select the 'Export File' option and save it at the desktop and after that transfer it to the new system.
- Next, you need to import this module not the VB editor at the new system.
- For this, open VB editor and right click on the 'Personal.xlsb' and select the 'Import File'.
- After that, browse the module file and click OK to import.
Now, you have the new module in your Personal Macro Workbook where you have all the VBA codes and you can use them from the macros list. Adobe com go reader_download for mac.
(B) Copy-Paste Personal.xlsb File to the Startup Folder
If the new system where you want to transfer all the codes don't have a Personal Macro Workbook then you can simply copy-paste personal.xlsb from the old system to new system's Excel startup folder.
Yes, that's it.
Delete Personal Macro Workbook
If you don't want to have a Personal Macro Workbook you can simply delete it from your system. All you need to do is, open the Excel STARTUP folder and delete the file from there.
And if the PERSONAL.XLSB file hidden then you simply unhide it and then delete it. The recommendation is to take a back of the Personal Macro Workbook so that you can restore it in future.
What if I'm Unable to Record a Macro in Personal Macro Workbook
There can be a situation where you aren't able to record a macro in Personal Macro Workbook. Install chrome 60. Or, it doesn't open when you launch Excel.
In this situation, you need to check if your Personal Macro Workbook isn't under 'Disabled Items'. If it is, then you need to enable it. To open 'Disabled Items', go to File Tab ➜ Options ➜ Add-Ins ➜ Manage ➜ Disabled Items.
From this dialog box, you can simply enable it.
Hide it if Excel Keep Opening it Every time
As you know, every time you open Excel, the Personal.xlsb file opens with it automatically but sometimes instead of open as a hidden file it will open in the front.
Well, you can make it hide back. All you need to do is when you open your Excel app go to the View Tab and click on the 'Hide' and select the 'Personal'.
In the end, click OK. Now, close the Excel and restart it. That's it.
Transfer Other VBA Codes in Personal Macro Workbook
It's always better to record and write your macro code in Personal.xlsb, but for all the code which you have before creating the PERSONAL MACRO WORKBOOK.
This thing is simple. All you need to do is create a new module and then paste all the code there.
Lock Personal.xlsb for Editing
If you want to make your Personal Macro Workbook locked so that it can't be edited then you can simply follow below steps:
- First of all, go to the place where you have Personal.xlsb and right click and open its properties.
- After that, from the 'Security' tab tick mark the 'Read Only'.
- In the end, click OK.
Once you do this, you can be able to read macro from it but can't able to save a new macro in it.
In the End,
A Personal Macro Workbook can be helpful for you to manage all the important macros in one place. The best way is to create a personal.xlsb is to simply record a macro in it. I hope you found this VBA tip will help you to Learn VBA, Faster.
But now, tell me one thing.
How you Manage all the VBA codes you use?
Make sure to share your views with me in the comment section, I'd love to hear from you and please, don't forget to share this post with your friends, I am sure they will appreciate it.
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VBA is one of the Advanced Excel Skills.
