Problem

When launching Word, I get the following error message:

This file contains macros with an expired or revoked signature. Since you are running under High Security Level, these macros will be disabled.

What does this message mean, and how can I fix the error?

Solution

The HotDocs macros are contained in Word .DOT templates, which are digitally signed by LexisNexis. When Word loads a template that contains macros, it looks for a digital signature to know whether or not it should trust the macros. Since the certificates used to digitally sign files expire after a period of time, the files must be occasionally signed again using an updated certificate. You can fix this error by downloading updated macros, which are signed with a new, non-expired, certificate.

To update your HotDocs macros

1. Close HotDocs and Word.
2. In your Web browser, open ftp://ftp.hotdocs.com/pub/support/word/.
3. Download HD2008Macros.zip or HD2009Macros.zip (depending on which version of HotDocs you have), and save the file to your desktop.
4. Open the zip file, and extract the updated templates to the following folders, replacing the files that are in those folders already:
   • hd6edit.dot, hd6icon.dot --> C:\Program Files\HotDocs 6\Source\Word\Macros
   • hd2007edit.dotm, HotDocsRibbon.dotm --> C:\Program Files\HotDocs 6\Source\Word\Macros2007
   • Model Document Authoring Toolbar.dot --> C:\Program Files\HotDocs 6\Source\Word\MDML
5. Launch HotDocs from the Start menu. This causes HotDocs to copy the updated macros to Word's Startup folder.
6. Launch Word. The warning about the expired macros should no longer appear, although you may be asked if you want to trust the macros signed by LexisNexis. If you see this prompt, choose Always trust macros from this publisher and then click Enable Macros.