XL2002: Cannot Add Digital Signature to Shared Workbooks (289572)

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to add a valid digital signature to a workbook, the signature is not shown in the Digital Signature dialog box and no error message is displayed.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the workbook is shared.

NOTE: This problem only affects digital signatures that are applied to a workbook. It does not affect digital signatures that are applied to the workbook's Visual Basic project.

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, remove the workbook from shared use. To do this, follow these steps:

On the Tools menu, click Share Workbook.
On the Editing tab, click to clear the Allows changes by more that one user at the same time check box.
Click OK.
If you are prompted, click Yes to save the file.

To add a digital signature to the workbook, follow these steps:

On the File menu, click Save. Provide the file name and path, and click Save.
On the Tools menu, click Options.
In the Options dialog box, click the Security tab.
Click Digital Signatures.
In the Digital Signature dialog box, click Add.
Select the digital certificate that you want to use to sign the workbook, and then click OK.
Click OK to close both the Digital Signature dialog box and the Options dialog box.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about digital signatures, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type digital signatures in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

For more information about the limitations of shared workbooks, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type features that are unavailable in shared workbooks in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.