How to Make an Excel Document Trusted

Understanding Trusted Documents

Trusted documents in Excel are those where active content, such as macros, ActiveX controls, and data connections, has been expressly permitted to run. Once active content is enabled, the document becomes trusted, eliminating Message Bar warnings upon opening.

Enabling Active Content

To make an Excel document trusted, enable the active content within the file. This action marks the file as trusted and allows it to open without triggering security warnings. Note that files from unsafe or network locations may not be marked as trusted, and attempting to do so can prompt a Security Warning dialog box.

Trusted Locations and Security

For enhanced security, consider placing files in a trusted location. Files in trusted locations are automatically considered safe and do not prompt security warnings. Exercise caution when trusting files from network locations and ensure you trust the source of the file before proceeding.

System Administrator Restrictions

Be aware that a system administrator can disable active content types for security reasons. If active content is blocked, it cannot be enabled, and therefore the document cannot be marked as trusted. If you encounter such restrictions, consult with your system administrator.

Trust Center Settings

If you are unable to make a document trusted, the Trusted Documents feature may be disabled in your Trust Center settings, especially for network locations. To modify these settings, navigate to the Trust Center and adjust the options for Trusted Documents accordingly. However, if you cannot make a macro-enabled workbook a Trusted Document, you may need to review your organization's security policies or consult further with your IT department.

Common Use Cases

• 
  Automatically running macros without security prompts
• 
  Seamlessly refreshing external data sources upon opening the document
• 
  Streamlining the process of opening frequently used Excel workbooks with active content
• 
  Enabling complex automated Excel applications to function without interruptions
• 
  Facilitating the use of Excel add-ins that require trusted document status

Excel vs. Sourcetable: A Comparative Analysis

When analyzing data management tools, Excel and Sourcetable stand out for their unique features. Excel, a long-standing leader in spreadsheet software, offers versatility and familiarity. In contrast, Sourcetable emerges as a modern solution, designed to aggregate data from multiple sources into a unified spreadsheet interface.

Sourcetable differentiates itself with its AI copilot. This advanced feature assists users in creating complex formulas and templates, streamlining data manipulation tasks. Excel, while powerful, lacks a built-in AI assistant, potentially increasing the learning curve for advanced operations.

Integration capabilities are another key distinction. Sourcetable excels in connecting with various data sources seamlessly, offering real-time data consolidation. Excel requires additional tools or manual processes for similar levels of integration, which can be time-consuming and less efficient.

In terms of user support, Sourcetable's chat-based AI interface simplifies problem-solving and formula creation. Excel users often rely on external resources or expertise to tackle complex challenges, which may hinder productivity for less experienced users.