My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his
words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me
that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really
VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or
imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks.

I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to
"low".

What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue
box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that
status.

Thanking in anticipation

Bill Hall

In xl2002 and later, you could certify your project. The user of the
software has to then accept you as a trusted source when prompted. Trying
to set security to LOW would be the type of action expected of a person
distributing a virus.


An Overview:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...tml/combat.asp

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de.../odc_dsvba.asp
Code Signing Office XP Visual Basic for Applications Macro Projects

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q288985
XL2002: About Digital Signatures in Excel Workbooks

http://support.microsoft.com/default...38&Product=ofw
About Digital Signatures and Code Signing in Workbooks in Excel 2003

http://support.microsoft.com/?KBID=206637
OFF2000: Overview of Digital Certificates (Q206637)

http://support.microsoft.com/?KBID=217221
OFF2000: Using SelfCert to Create a Digital Certificate for VBA Projects
(Q217221)



Another reference:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en...vbaproject.asp



http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q329228
OFFXP: How to Make Sure That Your Office Document Has a Valid Digital
Signature


http://office.microsoft.com/assistan...ustworthy.aspx
How to Tell if Digital Certificate Is Trustworthy in Office XP

Regards,
Tom Ogilvy


"Bill Hall" wrote in message
...
My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his
words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells
me
that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS -
(really
VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or
imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their
networks.

I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to
"low".

What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a
dialogue
box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with
that
status.

Thanking in anticipation

Bill Hall

You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill.
http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002

However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code
and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a
1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you
let users subscribe on a monthly basis.
2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a
COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in
an Excel workbook.
As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make
themselves the trusted developer at work.
*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com


"Bill Hall" wrote in message
...
My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his
words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells
me
that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS -
(really
VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or
imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their
networks.

I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to
"low".

What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a
dialogue
box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with
that
status.

Thanking in anticipation

Bill Hall

So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they
are Bill. I think not.

--
Regards,
Tom Ogilvy

"Anne Troy" wrote in message
news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com...
You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill.

http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002

However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code
and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a
1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which
you
let users subscribe on a monthly basis.
2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a
COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros
in
an Excel workbook.
As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and
make
themselves the trusted developer at work.
*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com


"Bill Hall" wrote in message
...
My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his
words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells
me
that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS -
(really
VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage
or
imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their
networks.

I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security
to
"low".

What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a
dialogue
box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with
that
status.

Thanking in anticipation

Bill Hall

Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new
book, and sign it themselves?
*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com


"Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message
...
So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that
they
are Bill. I think not.

--
Regards,
Tom Ogilvy

"Anne Troy" wrote in message
news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com...
You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill.


http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002

However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your
code
and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a
1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which
you
let users subscribe on a monthly basis.
2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or
a
COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than
macros
in
an Excel workbook.
As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and
make
themselves the trusted developer at work.
*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com


"Bill Hall" wrote in message
...
My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming
(his
words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks,
tells
me
that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS -
(really
VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage
or
imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their
networks.

I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro
security
to
"low".

What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a
dialogue
box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited
with
that
status.

Thanking in anticipation

Bill Hall

If you password protect the VBE it makes it harder for anyone to see the
code.

--
steveB

Remove "AYN" from email to respond
"Anne Troy" wrote in message
news:c0e8$42d574d3$97c5108d$22207@allthenewsgroups .com...
Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new
book, and sign it themselves?
*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com


"Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message
...
So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that
they
are Bill. I think not.

--
Regards,
Tom Ogilvy

"Anne Troy" wrote in message
news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com...
You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill.


http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002

However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your
code
and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations
a
1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to
which
you
let users subscribe on a monthly basis.
2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it,
or
a
COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than
macros
in
an Excel workbook.
As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and
make
themselves the trusted developer at work.
*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com


"Bill Hall" wrote in message
...
My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming
(his
words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks,
tells
me
that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS -
(really
VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the
courage
or
imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their
networks.

I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro
security
to
"low".

What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a
dialogue
box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited
with
that
status.

Thanking in anticipation

Bill Hall

well certainly they can sign it themselves ann. But without BILL'S
certificate they can either only sign with a self-made certificate or with
their own purchased certificate.
--
When you lose your mind, you free your life.


"STEVE BELL" wrote:

If you password protect the VBE it makes it harder for anyone to see the
code.

--
steveB

Remove "AYN" from email to respond
"Anne Troy" wrote in message
news:c0e8$42d574d3$97c5108d$22207@allthenewsgroups .com...
Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new
book, and sign it themselves?
*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com


"Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message
...
So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that
they
are Bill. I think not.

--
Regards,
Tom Ogilvy

"Anne Troy" wrote in message
news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com...
You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill.


http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002

However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your
code
and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations
a
1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to
which
you
let users subscribe on a monthly basis.
2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it,
or
a
COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than
macros
in
an Excel workbook.
As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and
make
themselves the trusted developer at work.
*******************
~Anne Troy

www.OfficeArticles.com


"Bill Hall" wrote in message
...
My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming
(his
words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks,
tells
me
that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS -
(really
VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the
courage
or
imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their
networks.

I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro
security
to
"low".

What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a
dialogue
box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited
with
that
status.

Thanking in anticipation

Bill Hall

Hi Bill,

Looks like you generated a long discussion! I'm (very) far from an
expert in these matters but I won't let that stop me. It occurs to me
that you have two issues:
(1) Gaining the confidence of other schools to allow the macros to run
(your original question);
(2) Securing your code from theft.

To deal with the first issue:

(a) You don't definitely have to have a signature. If your code is an
AddIn and installed as such (by the school's IT staff) then security can
still be set as Very High. Rob Bovey's wonderful CodeCleaner runs just
fine on my machine under such conditions (XL2003). So if you deploy like
this the IT staff can be confident they're not exposed to other macros.

(b) OK - say you don't want to use an AddIn. Get yourself a signature
and have the IT staff trust it on their machines. It can't be recreated
by someone else. There are several ways to gain a signature. Buy one
(from Verisign and the like) - see Anne's post. (My take: expensive, not
worth it.) Create your own. You CAN do this (for free) - using MS's
makecert.exe or selfcert.exe. Once your original signature has been
trusted by the school's machines you can send new versions that are
still signed.

Second issue - securing your hard work. Again, a couple of options in my
mind:

(a) Just password protect your project (with a long password!). You can
also remove all the comments and spacing (using Codecleaner) - just to
be on the safe side and inconvenience any hacker. It's secure-ish -
people on this NG will be able to explain just how much.
But let's face it - this is for schools' whiteboards. Schools aren't in
the habit of stealing software (as far as I know). It's probably cheaper
to buy it than crack it. And if someone rips it off and sells it - sue
the hell out of them! Probably far more lucrative since they'll be doing
some hard selling for you for free! (I've sold AddIns before now and
haven't lost any sleep over it. There's probably thousands of AddIns out
there on the internet right now you can buy. So it works.)

(b) Make it uncrackable if you are worried. Anne's suggestion of a web
based solution is one. I think a far cheaper solution (and also her
suggestion) is to port it to a VB executable. This is very easy to do
generally. (Depending on your application's requirements... if you need
to control Excel still - event trapping through OLE might be tricky,
I've never tried..) Why a school is happy to trust an executable file
but not a cleanly installed AddIn is beyond me though.

I hope at least some of this might be helpful.

Good luck.
Gareth


Bill Hall wrote:
My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his
words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me
that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really
VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or
imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks.

I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to
"low".

What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue
box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that
status.

Thanking in anticipation

Bill Hall