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MS Access 2003 Security Level

Default Behaviour

In their efforts to reduce the potential for malicious code in Microsoft Access applications to cause damage, Microsoft built a new security feature into Microsoft Access 2003.

Whenever an application is opened, Microsoft Access 2003 displays a series of warning messages unless:

  • the security level has been set to Low; or
  • the security level has been set to High and the application is digitally signed.

Changing the security level in Microsoft Access affects all applications opened in that particular copy of MS Access.

If the security level is set to High, functionality in all applications that are not digitally signed will be disabled.

Digitally Signed Products from 3 Piece Software Pty Ltd

The current versions of OSHatWork run under only MS Access 2007 and later.

Of the earlier versions, the only digitally signed ones which could be run under MS Access 2003 (and to which this discussion is therefore relevant) are:

  • OSHatWork version 2, and
  • OSHatWork version 3 to 3.008.

If you are using either of these versions under MS Access 2003:

  • If you do NOT use MS Access 2003 for anything else, or all the other applications you use it for ARE also digitally signed, set the security level to High.
  • If you DO use MS Access 2003 for other applications, and any of them are NOT digitally signed, it is suggested that you set the security level to Low in order to avoid the warning messages. Note however that there will then be no protection from potentially unsafe macros - so if you choose this option make sure you take whatever other measures you deem necessary to protect your systems.

Other Products from 3 Piece Software Pty Ltd

Of the earlier versions of OSHatWork, the only one which was NOT digitally signed was OSHatWork version 1.

If you are running OSHatWork version 1 under MS Access 2003, it is suggested that you set the security level to Low in order to avoid the warning messages. Note however that there will then be no protection from potentially unsafe macros - so if you choose this option make sure you take whatever other measures you deem necessary to protect your systems.

To Change the MS Access 2003 Security Level

  1. Open MS-Access 2003 (i.e. don't do this from within OSHatWork).
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Security. (If you do not see the Macro menu item under the Tools menu, or the Security menu item under the Macro menu, see the "Items Missing.." section below).
  3. Click the Security Level tab, and then select either High or Low based on the information above.

Items Missing From the Tools Menu?

If you do not see the Macro menu item under the Tools menu, or the Security menu item under the Macro menu, click the arrows at the bottom of the menu to display the hidden menu items.

If you still cannot see the Security command under the Macro menu:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Customize, and then click the Commands tab.
  2. Click Rearrange Commands, select Menu Bar, and in the Menu Bar box, click Tools | Macro.
  3. In the Controls section, click Add. The Add command dialog box will appear.
  4. In the Categories box, click Tools, and then in the Commands box, click Security. The Security command will appear in the Controls box.
  5. Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to position the Security command where you want.
  6. Click Close twice.