[Macro problem] Can't add citations to MS Word using Zotero!

edited February 25, 2019
Hi guys! I've downloaded Zotero and followed the instructions (provided on the website) for quite some time now. I successfully customized Zotero onto the MSWORD ribbon.

HOWEVER whenever I click "Add/Edit Citation" or any other options in that Zotero tab, a notification shows up saying: (text below) (something to do with macro settings).

Since I have tons of books, articles, etc. to cite and managing all of this manually is gonna take forever (and might not be as accurate as citing with Zotero) so if you have any ideas on how to deal with the problem, PLEASE help me!!!

Thanks (in advance).

--------------------------------------------------------
"This error usually occurs because of macro security settings. If you know that the macro comes from a source that you trust, you can change your macro security settings to allow you to enable the macro.

If the file opens in Protected View, click Enable Editing, and then click Enable Content. Editing functions are restored and the active content, including macros, will run. This file is now trusted; security prompts will no longer appear unless the file is opened on another computer.

Change macro settings

You can change macro security settings in the Trust Center. However, if you work in an organization, your system administrator might have changed the default settings to prevent anyone from changing any settings. Use the following instructions to change macro settings for your Office programs.

Click the File tab. The Backstage view appears.
Under Help, click Options. The Options dialog appears.
Click Trust Center, then click Trust Center Settings.
In the Trust Center click Macro Settings.
Macro settings explained:

Disable all macros without notification - Macros and security alerts about macros are disabled. If there are files with unsigned macros that you do trust, you can put those files into a trusted location. Files in trusted locations run without being checked by the File Validation process.
Disable all macros with notification - Macros are disabled, but security alerts appear if there are macros present. Enable macros on a case-by-case basis.
Disable all macros except digitally signed macros - Macros are disabled, but security alerts appear if there are macros present. However, if the macro is digitally signed by a trusted publisher, the macro runs if you have trusted the publisher. If you have not trusted the publisher, you are notified to enable the signed macro and trust the publisher.
Enable all macros (not recommended, potentially dangerous code can run) - All macros run. This setting makes your computer vulnerable to potentially malicious code.
Trust access to the VBA project object model - Disallow or allow programmatic access to the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) object model from an automation client. This security option is for code written to automate an Office program and manipulate the VBA environment and object model. It is a per-user and per-application setting, and denies access by default, hindering unauthorized programs from building harmful self-replicating code. For automation clients to access the VBA object model, the user running the code must grant access. To turn on access, select the check box.
Note Microsoft Publisher and Access have no Trust access to the VBA project object model option.

This error might also occur for the following reasons:

The certificate of trust that is attached to the macro is invalid. Unless you are certain that the macro is safe, it is recommended that you not trust or run the macro. Use the following instructions to view valid or invalid digital signatures.
Click the File tab. The Backstage view opens.
Click the Info tab.
Under Signed Document, click View Signatures.
The Signatures pane appears with a list of valid signatures.
For more information, in the Signatures pane, click the down-arrow next to each signature.
The certificate is no longer trusted, was revoked by the issuing authority, or is damaged. Unless you are certain that the macro is safe, it is recommended that you not trust or run the macro.
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is not installed on your computer. In this case, no VBA macro can be run, regardless of whether the macro has a valid certificate of trust. You or your administrator may have chosen not to install VBA, or the version of Microsoft Office that you are using may not install VBA by default. If your version of Microsoft Office does not provide VBA as an installable feature, you can upgrade to a version that provides VBA support.
If you are unable to change the security settings, it is possible that another program has locked the security settings. Close all Microsoft Office programs, then restart your program and change the security settings."
  • This suggests that you have installed the Zotero plugin template somewhere else than the Word Startup folder. You mention customizing Zotero onto the Word ribbon. You need to expand on what you did/how you got Zotero to show up in Word in the first place.
  • Also, please refrain from using all capitals thread titles. See https://www.zotero.org/support/forum_guidelines#etiquette
  • edited February 25, 2019
    1. Yes, I manually installed/copied the Zotero.dotm file into the Word Startup folder (following the instructions on the website).

    2. The Zotero tab showed up on MS Word's ribbon (wish I could send you the screenshots) but the problem is whenever I go to MS Word > Zotero (on the ribbon) > Add/Edit Citation, the notification (posted above) shows up. It's about Macro settings.

    My friend's Zotero tab is exactly like mine, it's just that her Zotero works perfectly fine and no notification pops up (which I'm confused about).

    And thank you for your reply and reminder. I will go over the guidelines and edit the thread's title.
  • If you go into File -> Options -> Trust Centre and click "Trust Centre Settings". Then in the new window select "Trusted Locations" is the startup directory where you placed Zotero.dotm listed there? If not, what is the path of the startup directory (you may X out your username in the path if it is sensitive).
  • Yes, it's there. The path is C:\Users\ADMIN\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\Startup\
  • Have you tried updating Word/Office?
  • I have just checked. Yes, automatically installation is set as default so it's basically the latest version.
  • What is the listed version under File -> Account (or File -> Help with older Word releases)?
  • It is 14.0.4734.1000.
  • You are using a pre-release (Beta) version of Office 2010. I don't know how you got access to that and why you would still be running, but you should update to a non-pre-release version of Office. It doesn't matter whether it's 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365, but you need an up-to-date version of Office. This one has not been updated for 9 years and certainly the cause of your issues.
Sign In or Register to comment.