How to prevent users from disabling the NuGenesis LMS Smart Builder add-in in Excel using Group Policies - WKB221156

OBJECTIVE or GOAL

Prevent users from disabling the NuGenesis LMS Smart Builder plug-in in Excel.

ENVIRONMENT

• NuGenesis 9 LMS
• NuGenesis 8 LMS
• The supported versions of 32-bit Microsoft Office for each LMS version

PROCEDURE

1. Download the following:
           For Office 2016 and later - 32-bit Administrative Templates for Microsoft Office
           For Office 2013 - 32-bit Administrative Templates for Microsoft Office
   • Note: Smart Builder is not supported on 64-bit Microsoft Office.
2. The downloaded file from Microsoft will copy the correct set of administrative templates to the specified folder based on the installed version of Microsoft Office. Before running the installer, ensure that the installed MS Office version on the machine matches the version in use on the client machines. If the base of client machines (user laptops, Citrix servers, VMs, and so on) has different versions of MS Office installed, run the program on a machine with the lowest version of Office installed.
3. The installer will create an "admx" folder in the path specified by the user.
4. Copy all .admx files into C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions on a domain controller.
5. Copy the language-appropriate .adml files from \admx\<langcode> into C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\<langcode> on a domain controller.
   • For example, for English, copy \admx\en-us\.adml to C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions\en-us.
6. Create a Group Policy object that sets the following policies:
   • User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Excel 2016 > Excel Options > Customize Ribbon: "Disable the Developer tab in the Ribbon" : Disabled
   • User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Excel 2016 > Miscellaneous: "List of managed add-ins" : Enabled.  Click the Show button, and specify the Value name of FormDesigner and a value of 1
   • User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Office 2016 > Global Options > Customize: "Turn off all user customizations" : Enabled.  Disallow in Excel
7. Apply this GPO to the relevant groupings of users.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

When these policies are in effect for users, the following effects will be apparent in Excel:

• "Disable the Developer tab in the Ribbon": The developer tab will not be visible in Excel. If a user tries to re-enable that tab, it will not be made visible. The buttons on the Developer tab will be dimmed and unavailable within Excel Options \ Customize the Ribbon.
• "List of managed add-ins": If a user goes to Excel Options > Add-ins > Manage COM Add-ins and selects NuGenesis LMS Smart Builder, the following text appears in the dialog box: "The add-in you have selected is enabled by your system administrator." The "Remove" button for this add-in is disabled. Users cannot disable this add-in.
• "Turn off all user customizations": in Excel, the user will not be able to customize the Quick Access Toolbar or the Ribbon.