Migrating to Microsoft 2003 tools
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Migrating to Microsoft 2003 tools Download a printable version of the Microsoft 2003 Executive Summary. Download a printable version of the Microsoft 2003 Detailed Report.
Access 2003 Macro Security Access 2003 provides 3 levels of macro security:
Block Potentially Unsafe Functions This feature is tied to the Jet database engine that Access uses. You can configure the Jet engine to return an error value when trying to execute suspicious functions. This requires running the Jet engine in Sandbox mode. You are given the option to enable Sandbox mode when switching the macro security level from Low to Med or High. You are given the option to disable Sandbox mode when switching the macro security level to Low. Using this feature requires the Microsoft Jet engine 4.0, with service pack 8, to be installed. To obtain the new service pack, go to: http://support.microsoft.com/?id=829558 For further information and a list of functions that are blocked, go to : http://support.microsoft.com/?id=294698 Object Dependencies View whether a database object is dependent upon another object or which objects are dependent on it (i.e. a form that references a table, a report that gets information from a query, etc.). Error Checking Adds automatic error checking for common errors on Access forms and reports (shown is the “Keyboard Shortcut Error”, both buttons use the same keyboard shortcut). This feature’s options can be changed in the Tool->Options…->Error Checking tab.
Propagating Field Properties When a user changes a field property in table design view, Access provides the option to propagate this change to forms and reports controls bound to that field. Smart Tags This feature provides various options based on field contents. SmartTags are assignable to any field in a table, query, form, report, or data access page. There are only three SmartTags installed by default, Date, Personal Name, and Financial Symbol. Shown below is a Personal Name tag applied to a field in a table. While SmartTags were already introduced in Office 2002, they are now included in Access. Creating a Local Table from a Linked Table Users can make a local copy of a linked table by copy-pasting the table, then selecting the option to make it local
Sorting in Controls In the List Box, Combo Box, and Lookup Wizards, there is now an option to sort on up to four different fields. This adds one new page to each wizard that resembles the sort page in the Report Wizard. Summary of Visual Changes New Task Pane Setup
Menu Changes
Excel 2003 Lists Create a list from an Excel range. Lists provide AutoFilter functionality for the selected range. Unlike the regular AutoFilter feature which uses the natural language label range of a header for filtering, ‘Lists ‘ only filter on the specified range. This allows for better control over the filter functionality. In addition, lists allow a Total Row to be added, which can compute a number of different functions for a column. Different functions can be specified for each column in the list. There is also a New Record row that appears at the bottom of the list when the list is selected. This allows for easy insertion of new data into the list. Overall, the List feature can do anything the regular AutoFilter can do and more.
Enhanced Statistical Function This version corrects errors in many of the statistical functions leading to more accurate results: BINOMDIST, CHIINV, CONFIDENCE, CRITBINOM, DSTDEV, DSTDEVP, DVAR, DVARP, FINV, FORECAST, GAMMAINV, GROWTH, HYPGEOMDIST, INTERCEPT, LINEST, LOGEST, LOGINV, LOGNORMDIST, NEGBINOMDIST, NORMDIST, NORMINV, NORMSDIST, NORMSINV, PEARSON, POISSON, RAND, , RSQ, SLOPE, STDEV, STDEVA, STDEVP, STDEVPA, STEYX, TINV, TREND, VAR, VARA, VARP, VARPA, and ZTEST. Compare Workbooks Side by Side Compare workbook side by side. Tiles two workbooks vertically and synchronizes scrolling (both workbooks scroll at the same time). Summary of Visual Changes New Task Pane Setup
Menu Changes
PowerPoint 2003 Slide Show Toolbar The slide show toolbar appears in the bottom left corner when in Slide Show View. The toolbar provides easy access to the pen, slide changes, and speaker notes. Summary of Visual Changes
Word 2003 Reading Layout View The reading layout view provides a book-like view of a document for easier reading while still allowing document editing. Along the left hand side is the thumbnails section which provides for quick page changes. Thumbnails can be turned on or off and are turned off by default.
Summary of Visual Changes Menu Changes
Outlook 2003
The overall layout has been given an overhaul in Outlook 2003. The Outlook Bar is no longer available and has been replaced with common tasks and the folder list. Outlook 2003 is packed with new features as mentioned in the following section. Pictured below is the new layout of Outlook 2003.
Desktop Alerts When a new message is received, Outlook provides a new notification in the bottom right hand corner of your desktop. This notification includes the sender and subject of the message. However, if multiple messages are received at the same time not all messages will be displayed as notifications. Picture Attachment Options When a user inserts a picture as an attachment to an email, Outlook provides four settings for automatically resizing the image and email message. These resizing options were developed to reduce the total size of the email message containing images. These four options are:
The picture attachments task pane is available by choosing the Attachments Options button located to the right of the attachment.
Additional New Outlook Features
The user may choose from four different levels of filtering.
Finally, the user may set an option for Outlook to permanently delete suspected junk email, instead of filtering into the Junk Email folder. Summary of Visual Changes Menu Changes
Changes That Affect Multiple Applications Macro Security Microsoft now provides four levels of macro security in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook—Low, Medium, High, and the new Very High. Microsoft’s software installation defaults to setting a High macro security setting for all four applications.
D igital Signatures and Macro Security What is a digital signature? A digital signature electronically identifies who wrote a document. Digital signatures are used by code writers to “sign” macros and VBA code in Microsoft Office. Since macros and VBA code can contain viruses, it is important to know who wrote your code. It allows the user to choose to run macros only from trusted sources.; if a virus is found, it can be traced back to the author. How are digital signatures used in Microsoft Office? Microsoft Office provides four levels of macro security. When the macro security level is set to HIGH, any document that contains a macro or VBA code must be digitally signed before Office will allow you to open the document. How can I obtain a digital certificate? To digitally sign a document, you must create a digital certificate that states who you are. Certificates can be made purchased from third-party commercial certificate authority( such as VeriSign, Inc.), or you can create your own. Certificates from third-party authorities should be used if you are developing software for commercial use and distribution. They should also be used for robust security. A list of third-party certificate authorities in the Microsoft Root Certificate Program can be found at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/?url=/library/en-us/dnsecure/html/rootcertprog.asp Self-created certificates are considered unauthenticated and should be employed for internal use only. They can be created by running a program stored on your computer, located at: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 10\SELFCERT.exe (for Office XP users) C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 11\SELFCERT.exe (for Office 2003 users) When opening a self-certified document, an error message appears asking if the signature should be trusted. As anyone can create a self-certificate, they are not considered a robust security measure. How can I digitally sign a document? Once you have a digital certificate you can use, you can “sign” documents. With the document open, open the Visual Basic editor under the Tools->Macros->Visual Basic Editor menu, or press Alt-F11. Inside the Visual Basic editor, go to Tools->Digital Signature. From there you can select “Choose…” and choose which signature to sign the document with. Can I edit code in a digitally signed document? Once a document is signed, the macros and VBA code can only be edited by the owner of the signature for the signature to hold. If someone other than the owner of the signature attempts to change the code, it will void the current digital signature. This allows for others to still edit code you wrote and signed, but not have your name (and reputation) attached to it. How can I accept a certificate/How do I install a certificate? Certificates need to be installed in order to be able to accept them. Certificates can be installed when opening a signed document. When a signed document is opened and the certificate has not been installed (or the certificate hasn’t been set to always be trusted), a warning screen appears. Click “Details…”
The signature details then appear. Click “View Certificate”.
The actual certificate then appears. Click “Install Certificate…”
This will open up a Certificate Installation Wizard. Go through the wizard to install the certificate. Close everything out. Reopen the document and check “Always trust macros from this publisher.” Then click “Enable Macros”.
Once this process is complete, any document opened that has the same certificate will open normally (without warnings). Research Task Pane The research task pane is a new addition to all Microsoft Office 2003 applications. The task pane provides for in-application research using dictionaries, encyclopedias as well as translation tools. Installation Recommendations Macro Security - Medium- Display Full Menus Remove Help Menus
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