HOW TO: Configure a Policy Setting to Disable Password Protection for Microsoft Access 2002, Microsoft Excel 2002, and Microsoft Word 2002

Several of the Office XP programs give users the ability to protect file content by setting a password. You can configure a policy setting that disables this feature by turning off the command bar buttons and menu bar items that are used to set passwords in Access, Excel, and Word.

Disable Password Protection for Access, Excel, and Word

System policies are organized by program when they are displayed within the System Policy Editor. Each program requires the loading of a related system policy template. Within the templates are categories for Office programs, such as Tools | Options and Disable items in user interface. Within these categories are individual policies. You enable a policy by selecting it in the System Policy Editor, setting it to selected, and then enforcing the policy or adding extra parameters (values) to the policy in the work area at the bottom of the Properties dialog box.

To disable password protection for Access, Excel, and Word by using Microsoft Windows NT:

1. In the System Policy Editor, double-click the Default User icon.
2. In the Default User Properties box, expand the application node that you want to change by clicking the plus (+) sign.
3. Expand the Disable items in user interface node.
4. Expand the Predefined node.
5. Select the Disable command bar buttons and menu items policy. Set the application by following these steps:
   • For Access 2002, select the Tools | Security | Set Database Password check box.
   • For Excel 2002, select the following check boxes:
     • Tools | Protection
     • Tools | Protection | Protect Sheet
     • Tools | Protection | Protect Workbook
     • Tools | Protection | Protect and Share Workbook
   • For Word 2002, select the Tools | Protect Document check box.

To disable password protection in Access, Excel, and Word by using the Microsoft Management Console:

1. Click Start, point to Run, and then start the Microsoft Management Console (MMC),
2. On the Console menu, click Add/Remove Snap-In.
3. In the Add/Remove Snap-In dialog box, click Add (in the lower left area).
4. In the list of snap-ins, double-click Group Policy, and then click Finish.
5. Click Close and then click OK in the Add/Remove Snap-In dialog box.
6. In the Console root under Local Computer Policy, expand User Configuration.
7. Expand Administrative Templates, and then examine the templates that are currently installed.
8. Right-click Administrative Templates, and then click Add/Remove Templates.
9. Click Add and then double-click the Office program template (*.adm) that you want to modify.
10. Click Close in the Add/Remove Templates dialog box.
11. Expand the application template that you just added under Administrative Templates.
12. Expand the Disable items in user interface item, and then click Predefined.
13. Double-click Command bar buttons and menu items.
14. Click the Enabled button.
    • For Access 2002, select the Tools | Security | Set Database Password check box.
    • For Excel 2002, select the following check boxes:
      • Tools | Protection
      • Tools | Protection | Protect Sheet
      • Tools | Protection | Protect Workbook
      • Tools | Protection | Protect and Share Workbook
    • For Word 2002, select the Tools | Protect Document check box.
15. Click OK in the Properties dialog box.
16. On the Console menu, click Save to save the modified policy.

Troubleshooting

In Word 2002, PowerPoint 2002, and Excel 2002, users can still set passwords for a file by using the Save As command (File menu). Setting a policy to lock the command bar buttons and menu bar items for password protection does not prevent users from taking advantage of this alternative.

For example, in Word, users can set a password for a document by clicking Save As on the File menu, and then, in the Save As dialog box, clicking the Tools menu and then clicking Security Options. The Security tab is displayed and includes two password options that allow users to set a password for the file: Password to open and Password to modify. Excel makes similar options available through the Save As command (File menu).