How to add a digital signature to an Access 2003 run-time application

This article describes two methods that you can use to add a digital signature to a Microsoft Office Access 2003 run-time application. You want to add a digital signature to an Access 2003 run-time application so that the end user is not prompted with security warnings when the end user opens the application. The following are the two methods that you can use:

• Use the Custom Startup Wizard to add a digital signature
• Add a digital signature manually

Regardless of the method that you select, you have to obtain a digital signature. The company that you select has to provide a Code Sign signature. For additional information about how you can obtain a digital signature, visit the following Microsoft Root Certificate Program Members Web site:You can also use a digital signature that is created with Microsoft Certificate Server. Certificate Server is included with Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack, with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, and with Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

Use the Custom Startup Wizard to add a digital signature

1. Start the Custom Startup Wizard.
2. Move through the screens of the wizard until you locate the Database and Custom Options screen.
   
   The Database and Custom Options screen is step 2 of 4.
3. In the Destination Options group, click to select the Add a Digital Signature check box.
4. Complete the wizard.
   
   After you complete the wizard, you receive the following message:
   
   
   Close this instance of Access when done choosing a digital signature
   
   
   Click OK.
5. In the Digital Signature dialog box, click Choose.
6. In the Select Certificate dialog box, click one of the available certificates, and then click OK.
7. In the Digital Signature dialog box, click OK.
8. Close the instance of Access 2003 that the wizard opened.
9. Respond as you want to when you are prompted to open the destination database.

Note Microsoft Office Access 2003 Developer Extensions is no longer available as a separate product. For more information about Access 2007 Developer Extensions, visit the following Microsoft MSDN Web site:

Add a digital signature manually

1. Start Access 2003, and then open the database that you are using for your Access 2003 run-time application.
2. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click the Visual Basic Editor.
3. In Project Explorer, click the project that you want to digitally sign.
4. On the Tools menu, click Digital Signature.
5. In the Digital Signature dialog box, click Choose.
6. In the Select Certificate dialog box, click one of the available certificates, and then click OK.
7. In the Digital Signature dialog box, click OK.
8. Close the Visual Basic Editor, and then close Access 2003.

Trust the digital signature

The digital signature may not be automatically trusted. To automatically trust the digital signature, follow these steps:

1. Start Access 2003, and then open the database that you are using for your Access 2003 run-time application.
2. If you are prompted with the following message, and you trust the source, click Yes:
   
   
   Security warning: Unsafe expressions are not blocked
3. In the next Security Warning dialog box, click Details.
4. In the Digital Signature Details dialog box, click View Certificate.
5. In the Certificate dialog box, click the Certification Path tab.
6. Click the Certification Path that has the red X, and then click View Certificate.
7. In the Certificate dialog box, click Install Certificate.
8. In the Certificate Import Wizard, click Next.
9. Click to select the Automatically select the certificate store based on the type of certificate check box.
10. Click Next.
11. Click Finish.
12. Click Yes when you are prompted to add the certificate to the Root Store.
13. Click OK four times until you return to the Security Warning dialog box.
14. Click Cancel or click Open in the Security Warning dialog box.
15. The next time that you open the database, you can click to select the Always trust files from this publisher and open them automatically check box.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.

For more information about the "Security warning: Unsafe expressions are not blocked" warning message in step 2 of the "Trust the digital signature" section, click Microsoft Office Access Help on the Help menu, type Hide the unsafe expressions security warning message in Access 2003 in the Search for box in the Assistance pane, and then click Start searching to view the topic.