Macros used in RH9 to create printed documentation (digital signature?)

[nankinnankin]

Per my IT deparment, I need to verify that the macros used in the creation of printed documentation (output to MS-Word) have been digitally signed. Would someone be able to verify this for me? Thank you.

Matt

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

You might have better luck over in the Printed Documentation thread or give Adobe Support a call.

[RoboColum_n_]

I could be wrong here but I think the only macros that are used in generating the Word file are on the Word side, not Adobe's.

[Captiv8r]

Yes, Colum, they are Word macros, but they are also there because of a DOT that Adobe supplies. And in that DOT file, there are macros that are created (or at least maintained) by the Adobe folks. So in a way, the onus does actually fall into Adobe's lap as far as signing them and whatnot.

Cheers... Rick

[nankinnankin]

Thank you all for your responses. I have been in contact with Adobe technical support. The macros that Adobe supplies for this process have not been digitally signed. Should that make my IT department hesitant to allow these macros to run on the system when the MS-Word files are produced from RoboHelp?

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Up to you & them - I wouldn't care

[RoboColum_n_]

Me neither but the final decision is I guess up to your IT peeps.

[Peter Grainge]

Do the templates really need to be signed? They are installed as part of RoboHelp or TCS and that has been digitally signed so there is a sort of inherited signature.

This is the first time that I can recall anyone querying this in fifteen years of using RoboHelp.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[nankinnankin]

Am I correct in assuming that one of the first steps RH9 takes in creating an MS-Word document is to open a .DOT template file that specifies how the document will appear? If so, what is the purpose of the macros that are contained in that file?

I am working to address concerns from my IT department. Thank you.

[RoboColum_n_]

Maybe you could tell your IT peeps that the package as a whole is digitally signed. This so happens to have a .DOT file. Although this may not have a digital signature, this should suffice. It is a bit like asking for a guarantee on a Corvette and it breaks down on driving it home because the clutch is broke. The clutch itself itself may not have a guarantee but the car has. Let us know how you get on.

[Peter Grainge]

I think your IT people need to tell you why they are concerned so that we can answer the specifics. If you open the supplied Style Mapping template, there are no macros in that. Without speaking to Adobe, I can only assume the conversion uses scripts that are built into the Rh exe, which is signed.

What is it that is bothering your IT people, apart from the lack of signature itself?

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge

[nankinnankin]

Hi Peter,

Thank you for your message. The enabling of macros goes against established policies and procedures. Because of this exception, I was hoping to gather some additional information that I could provide them as background information.

[Peter Grainge]

I'm back-tracking a bit on my previous answer as Word does require security settings to be lowered, notwithstanding that the Style Mapping template has no macros visible. I think you need to persuade IT that however Adobe do this, it is a method that has been in use for years and no one has had any problems in the sense that concerns them.

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See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

@petergrainge