question on microsoft word

[Dude!]

my uncle gave me a used computer
with microsoft word 2003 installed

whenever i go to start a new word file
or open an existing word file
a message pops up that says:

"The macros in this project are disabled. Please refer to the online help or documentation of the host application to determine how to enable macros."

if I then click 'ok' the document will open

i checked through the help sections and still can't cant figure out how to "enable the macros"

what do i do?

thank you

[Fez4PrezN2008]

There was a rash of macro viruses while back and they started disabling the macro shit. Go to microsoft.com and see if you can get a more recent service pack might help it, but mostly just an annoying dialogue box - imagine that from microsoft?


I'm looking at you Vista

[angrymissy]

Go to Tools -> Macro -> Security, then change the macro security to whatever you want (low to not get that prompt)

[biozombie]

yeah, what AngryMissy said, same thing applies for the entire Office suite.

Low - will never prompt you about any macros
Medium - will ask if you want to enable macros
high - you can't run any macros, not even the ones you made yourself


I *heart* macros.

[KnoxHarrington]

yeah, what AngryMissy said, same thing applies for the entire Office suite.

Low - will never prompt you about any macros
Medium - will ask if you want to enable macros
high - you can't run any macros, not even the ones you made yourself


I *heart* macros.

I'd probably go with Medium unless you're going to be using a lot of macros yourself. If so, then I'd go to Low. Just be careful to not open any Office files you didn't create yourself, or that you are unsure of the origin of.

I'd also throw in that just about any antivirus scanner should be able to scan Office files to make sure they aren't bearing viruses. Some might require you to enable it, but you should be fine.

[Dude!]

Go to Tools -> Macro -> Security, then change the macro security to whatever you want (low to not get that prompt)


i did the above and changed from 'high' to 'medium'
but then i got a new message that it wouldn't open because 'a dialog box was open'

so i closed everything out and restarted the computer and got the same message

so i went back to tools and changed macro settings to "low" (it said checking this box is not recommended)

and now a blank word document or an existing file opens immediately, as i had wanted

i don't know if this is really risky, but i am willing to take whatever risk it is to avoid the ongoing annoyance of opening word documents

thank you to everyone for the advice!

[biozombie]

You'll be fine as long as you don't receive any documents with malicious macros...I'm sure they exist, but I never came across one myself.

[patsopinion]

download open office
problem solved