Microsoft KB Archive/120000

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No Password Security When Mail Accessed from Microsoft Toolbar

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Q120000

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Office for Windows, version 7.0
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
 * Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0
 * Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows, version 4.0
 * Microsoft Access 2.0
 * Microsoft Project for Windows, version 4.0
 * Microsoft Mail, version 3.0

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SYMPTOMS
Microsoft Mail version 3.0 (and Mail in Windows for Workgroups) has a security feature such that the minimized Mail icon cannot be maximized unless you supply your logon password. However, when you use the Microsoft toolbar in Microsoft applications to activate Mail, you may not be prompted for a password and Mail may open successfully. This behavior is exhibited by the following:

Microsoft Excel Visual Basic for Applications method

ActivateMicrosoftApp (xlMicrosoftMail)

Microsoft Excel macro command =APP.ACTIVATE.MICROSOFT(3)

Microsoft Word macro command MicrosoftMail

Microsoft Project Visual Basic for Applications command

AppExecute Command:="MsMail.exe" This behavior occurs in the following applications that use the Microsoft Toolbar:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.x and 7.0
 * Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.x and 7.0
 * Microsoft PowerPoint, versions 4.x and 7.0
 * Microsoft Access, versions 2.x and 7.0
 * Microsoft Project, version 4.x

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Mail version 3.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION
In Microsoft Excel version 5.0 for Windows, you can use the Microsoft toolbar to start or switch to other Microsoft applications. To view and use the Microsoft toolbar, do the following:


 * 1) From the View menu, choose Toolbars.
 * 2) In the Toolbars dialog box, under Toolbars, select the Microsoft check box.
 * 3) Choose OK to accept the change.

The Microsoft toolbar will appear on the screen.

Once Microsoft Mail is running, if you minimize it and try to maximize or restore the application window, you will be prompted to re-enter the logon password. If, however, you use the Microsoft toolbar in Microsoft Excel to switch to Mail, you will not be prompted for your password.

To activate the security feature of Microsoft Mail, you must edit the MSMAIL.INI file. This can be edited by using any ASCII text editor such as Windows Notepad. In the [Microsoft Mail] section of this file, add the following line:

"security=1" This change will take effect when you restart Mail.

In Microsoft Project if you change the command line

AppExecute Command:="MsMail.exe"

to

Shell "MsMail.exe", 1 you will be prompted for a password as expected.