SQL*XL: Problems with the trusted electronic signature


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Problems with the trusted electronic signature.

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SQL*XL is digitally signed with a Thawte trusted digital signature. The signature enables you to use SQL*XL in Excel with the security setting of high. The certificate certifies that the software is coming from my company: Linker IT Software B.V.

Checking the Excel security level

Warning: "The publisher could not be authenticated and therefore could be imitated"

How can I prevent the security warning from displaying each time I use SQL*XL?

Why do we need all this security stuff?

The Excel Security Level:
A screen print of the Excel macro security settings are shown to the right. Do not set the security to Very High. No macros are allowed to run in this setting and therefore SQL*XL cannot run with Very High security. Set the level to High or Medium.

To be able to configure the security level please use Excel's menu: Tools|Macros|Security.

Excel Macro Security: Tools|Macros|Security

Warning: "The publisher could not be authenticated and therefore could be imitated"

On some PCs the SQL*XL certificate cannot be authenticated. This may even lead to the "enable macros" butten to be disabled when a security setting of high is used.

SQL*XL uses a digital certifcate issued by Thawte. You need to install the so called Thawte Code Signing CA Root Certificate. You can download the certificate from www.thawte.com/roots or from my website (no form to fill in): download Thawte Code Signing CA Root Certificate.

Publisher cannot be authenticated.

Thawte Certificate

Double clicking the .cer file should display this certificate.
Press the Install Certificate button to install it on your PC.

How can I prevent the security warning from displaying each time I use SQL*XL?

Each time you use SQL*XL a security message similar to the one to the right will be displayed. If you run Excel in medium security you can choose to enable the macros each time you start SQL*XL. When you run in High security mode you can only run macros from a source that you have marked as trusted.

Trusting our digital certificate.
If you check the box that you trust the macros from Linker IT Software BV, my company, you will not be asked again if you want to run the macros inside of it.

To view the digital signature please press the details button. You will be shown a screen with details about the certificate and my company.

Checking the "Always trust macros from this publisher" box

Why do we need all this security stuff?
This is how Microsoft decided how to counter the problems with macro viruses. It makes it more difficult for legitimate programs like SQL*XL to run within MS Office. We have no option but to play the game according to Microsoft's rules. We have to pay the $200 a year for the digital signature and hope that they do not make it yet more difficult for us in the future!

SQL*XL online help

Problems with the trusted electronic signature.