Can't protect Word 2003 documents

[orman]

I created several files in Word 2003. I did some protecting and unprotecting of them a couple weeks ago. However, now when I click <Tools>, <Protect Document>, and the task pane comes up, I am unable to choose any of the setting. They are all greyed out.
Anyone else have this sort of problem?
Thanks.

 

[fumei]

However, now when I click <Tools>, <Protect Document>, and the task pane comes up, I am unable to choose any of the setting. They are all greyed out.

Just to clsrify.

1. The document is NOT protected. You are trying to protect it.

2. Tools > Protect Document normally causes a dialog box to appear. You get a task pane?

3. Normally the dialog box, made visible by Tools > Protect Document, has three choices: Tracked Changes, Comment, Forms, plus a password input box. Does your task pane have more than this, if so...what? What are the items that are greyed out?


Gerry

 

[orman]

Yes, I'm trying to protect a document. The task pane come up. Everything in the task pane is greyed out - the Formatting restrictions, Editing restrictions, Start enforcement. No choices can be made at all.

 

[fumei]

Sorry, 2003 must be more different from 2002, than I realized. It sounds like you are trying to protect the entire document, which in 2002 is Tools > Options > Security

Tools > Protect Document is specifically for protect forms, or track changes, or comments. It does not protect, say, opening the document.

On the other hand, in 2002, Tools > Protect Documents, when actually protected, does in fact lock formatting, and editing.

I am not sure what Start enforcement is.

In any case, it sounds like you may need to check your security settings. Has anything changed? Are you on a network, and has anything changed with that? The documents in question are NOT protected currently, correctly?

Gerry

 

[orman]

The documents are not protected. The network doesn't have anything to do with it. I ran into the same problem on a laptop not connected to the network. It looks like it is probably a bug in 2003. I seemed to have run into a couple of those.

 

[BlueHorizon]

Hi,
That task pane looks tricky. It looks like you need to check one of the boxes to have the options available. Try putting a checkmark in and see if things open up.


Best,
Blue Horizon

http://www.bluehorizontraining.com

 

[orman]

Nope, nothing can be selected. All checkboxes, drop down boxes, etc. are all greyed out in the Protect Document task pane.

 

[Chance1234]

Was there any solution to this, i am having exactly the same problem

Chance,

Filmmaker, gentlemen and I'm on page 96 on the MX Flash Bible

 

[PhilH123]

When you open the task pane is there a link at the bottom of it to Restrict permission...[/color blue].

If so what do you get when you click on this?

Phil.

 

[orman]

I found no solution.

 

[traceytr]

One of our users is having the exact same same issue. I've been all over the internet looking for the answer to this, and I've come across several posts from people having the same issue. Maybe it's a bug in Word 2003.

 

[traceytr]

I posted the issue to Microsoft's website, and they suggested a solution. I won't be able to test it for myself just yet because we used a workaround before MS posted their response.

The workaround:
Open your doc in a version of Word prior to 2003. Unprotect, make your edits, reprotect, and click "Yes, Start Enforcing."

The fix suggested by MS:
If you have your doc in design mode, the protection is unavailable. So turn on the Control Toolbox from View > Toolbars and make sure it's not in design mode.

If anyone has success with this fix, please let me know because this is bound to come up again with all of the protected forms that we have.

Tracey

 

[Chance1234]

I did in the end find a solution, on a custom toolbar added a button with the following code

Dim oDoc As Document
Set oDoc = ActiveDocument

On Error GoTo ErrMess
If oDoc.ProtectionType = wdNoProtection Then
With Dialogs(wdDialogToolsProtectDocument)
.noreset = True
.Show
End With
Else
oDoc.Unprotect
End If
Exit Sub

ErrMess:
MsgBox Err.Description, vbInformation

End Sub

this seems to work every time.

Chance,

Filmmaker, gentlemen and I'm on page 157 on the MX Flash Bible