To set the macro security level in Access, click an option on the Security Level tab of the Security dialog box.
Access features three different macro security levels that control what happens when you first try to open a database file, and what can then happen while you have that database open. These levels are High, Medium, and Low:
- At the High macro security level, Access prevents you from opening any file unless it is digitally signed — a measure of its safety that we'll discuss in the third lesson of this course, "Working with digitally signed files."
- At the Medium macro security level, Access prompts you with a message when you first open a file. This message warns you that the file could contain code that might damage your computer or data, and gives you the choice of either opening the file or not. The file may or may not have a digital signature. If you decide not to open the file, you can choose to scan it for viruses, check with the originator of the file (that is, the person or company that created or changed it) to verify that it is safe, and then open it later.
- At the Low macro security level, Access allows you to open any database file without being prompted. We strongly recommend that you never use the Low macro security level.
