How To Use Verbatim Debate

Verbatim version 6 is coming Summertime 2022 with major new features, bug fixes, and security enhancements. Make sure to upgrade when it comes out.

Introduction

Verbatim is a template for Microsoft Word designed to facilitate paperless debating. It's in utilise past the vast bulk of loftier school and higher debate programs around the The states, and has been in active development for over a decade.

Verbatim comes with a born tutorial to teach you how to use information technology. But if yous're looking for more avant-garde education and tips, check out the transmission below.

If performing a manual installation, make sure to read the section on Security

Requirements

Windows – Verbatim five.ane+ volition work with Give-and-take 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, or Office 365
Mac – Verbatim 5.2+ will work with Mac Word 2011, 2016, 2019, or Office 365

Verbatim requires a "full" version of Microsoft Office (Role 365 or standalone), which includes back up for VBA macros. Information technology volition not work with the Part Starter Pack, Office Abode and Pupil, Office RT (east.g. for the Surface tablet), Office for iPad, Part for Android, or the version of Function in the Microsoft App Store.

Installation

Problems with installation? Check the FAQ.

The automatic installer for your operating system should work for the majority of people. If you lot're using a school calculator that disallows installing programs, or have other issues with the installer, y'all can employ the instructions beneath to perform a manual installation. Then, make sure to read the section on Security.

Windows

First, download the latest "Standalone" template (Fence.dotm) from the downloads page. Make sure that the file is saved every bit "Contend.dotm" and non "Debate (1).dotm" if you lot take accidentally downloaded more than i re-create.

Then, move Debate.dotm to your Templates binder, unremarkably located at:
c:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

That's it, Verbatim is installed! For ease of utilize, create a "shortcut" to Fence.dotm on your desktop (non a copy of the file itself). Optionally, you can also place additional Verbatim extensions like Timer.exe or NavPaneCycle.exe in the same Templates folder.

Mac

First, download the latest "Standalone" template (Debate.dotm) and the latest Script file (Verbatim.scpt) from the downloads page. Brand sure that the files are saved e.thou. as "Argue.dotm" and not "Argue (one).dotm" if you accept accidentally downloaded more one re-create.

To perform a manual installation on the Mac, y'all just need to put Argue.dotm and Verbatim.scpt in the appropriate folders. Note that these folders may be hidden past default, so you tin employ Cmd+Shift+1000 to go straight to the locations listed before.

If y'all're using Mac Give-and-take 2011, Contend.dotm should be placed in:
~/Library/Awarding Support/Microsoft/Function/User Templates/My Templates

If you're using Mac Word 2016, Debate.dotm should be place in:
~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Templates

Verbatim.scpt should be placed in:
~/Library/Application Scripts/com.microsoft.Word/

Notation that you may demand to manually create the folder for Verbatim.scpt – exist careful to use the exact punctuation and capitalization above!

Security

Because Verbatim is a Word template which relies on Visual Bones for Applications (VBA) Macros to role, how you install and run Verbatim has implications for the security of your Part installation.

Verbatim itself is completely safe. It is not a virus, and it contains no malicious code. It is completely open up source and has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times with no security issues.

Nevertheless, depending on how you lot ready up your macro security settings in Word while using Verbatim, y'all may open yourself to other people's malicious code. Ultimately, balancing ease of apply and security is upwards to you lot, and you should be informed about the tradeoffs.

There are three types of security settings used by Microsoft Give-and-take which bear upon how you employ Verbatim. You can change all 3 settings under File – Options – Trust Heart – Trust Centre Settings.

Previous versions of the Verbatim installer defaulted to irresolute these settings for you lot as part of the installation process unless you lot opted out. Now, the installer is "secure by default," and so you'll accept to manually opt-in to changing these settings, whether using the Verbatim installer or making these changes yourself.

Macro security & VBOM Access

Past default, Word enables "Macro Security" to prevent running macro lawmaking by people yous don't know. Y'all may run into a warning similar this when opening Verbatim:

This requires yous to click "Enable Content" on every file containing macros (e.g. every Verbatim file you open). That gets former fast, so many people plough their macro security to "depression," i.e. "Enable all macros" to make this prompt go away. This is more convenient, just means Give-and-take will run any macros someone sends to you, even if they take embedded a malicious not-Verbatim macro into a file. If you choose to run Word with "depression" macro security, brand sure you trust any person sending you files.

Additionally, you can choose to select "Trust Access to the VBA project object model." This setting is necessary for some Verbatim macros to role, such as the "Verbatimize/Always On" feature. The downside is that someone sending you malicious code could potentially insert macros into your "normal" Word template while this pick is enabled.

Protected View

Give-and-take has another layer of security enabled by default called "Protected View." When enabled, you lot may see warnings like this:

Again, this would require y'all to click the "Enable Editing" button on every Verbatim file you open that you lot didn't create yourself. Because that tin be frustrating, many users choose to disable Protected View:

The downside of enabling Protected View is, again, that someone could send you malicious non-Verbatim macro code that would run without whatever security prompts.

Bottom line, balancing the security and ease of use of your Verbatim installation is up to you. The Verbatim installer and some functions within Verbatim may requite you options to alter these settings in an automatic way, but you lot will need to decide for yourself which ones to enable or disable.

FAQ

Verbatim

I'thou getting a bulletin that Debate.dotm doesn't exist afterward installation.

You're well-nigh likely using the version of Function in the Microsoft App Store, which doesn't fully support VBA Macros. Try installing a full version of Part.

Mac – My certificate keeps jumping to the elevation of the page

This is due to a issues in Mac Word, non in Verbatim. Information technology occurs if you're in Spider web view, with the Navigation Pane turned on. The easiest fix is to switch to Typhoon view, or turn off the Navigation Pane. You can set your default view to Draft in the Verbatim settings.

Mac – The Verbatim/Add together-Ins toolbar doesn't open with older documents.

This is a problem/limitation with how Mac Word handles global templates, not a trouble with Verbatim.
The bottom line is there is very niggling you can do – if you want Verbatim to work on all your documents, consider using Boot Camp/Paralells. PC Word doesn't have this trouble.
There are some things you tin can try, simply your mileage may vary. Mac Word'southward support for global templates is very spotty, and it's unlikely to piece of work perfectly with files produced on other computers, especially files
originally produced on a PC. The usual workaround is to open a new Verbatim doc, and so cut and paste the contents.
Other things you can attempt:
one) Make sure the Verbatim.scpt file is installed in this directory:
~/Library/Application Scripts/com.microsoft.Discussion/
2) Try deleting your Verbatim.plist file in ~/Library/Preferences, and
your Normal.dotm template in:
~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Function/User Content/Templates
Then, repeat the "Verbatimize Normal" steps in the Verbatim Settings.
If your difficult drive isn't named the standard "Macintosh Hd" you tin can also
try irresolute information technology back to the default and see if that helps.

My Debate ribbon is collapsing into sections

You have "Bear upon Way" turned on in Word. Turn it off by following the directions here:
https://support.role.com/en-united states of america/article/turn-touch-way-on-or-off-90e162b1-44f9-434f-bc2b-9321c989ea6e

What versions of Give-and-take work with Verbatim?

Windows – Verbatim 5.one+ will work with Word 2010, Word 2013, or Word 2016.
Mac – Verbatim 5.two+ volition piece of work with Mac Word 2011 or Mac Word 2016.
Verbatim requires a "full" version of Microsoft Office (Part 365 or regular), which includes support for VBA macros. It will not piece of work with the Office Starter Pack, Part Home and Student, Role RT (eastward.1000. for the Surface tablet), Office for iPad, Office for Android, or the version of Role in the Microsoft App Store.

Why does Gmail mark my Mac Verbatim files equally having a virus?

Gmail recently inverse their virus scanner, and are at present reporting false positives for files produced in Mac Verbatim. There is unfortunately nothing I tin can do – Gmail is in complete command of what they mark as a virus and what they don't. The files being sent do not incorporate any macros or lawmaking (all code lives within the master template on your computer), so it's impossible for them to take a virus. That is, at that place'due south no style to modify Mac Verbatim to avoid this outcome.
Your all-time bet is to apply something other than email to transfer your files, or to copy and paste the contents of your verbatim file into a new non-Verbatim bare Word document earlier sending via email.

Will Verbatim work on my tablet?

Just if your tablet runs a full version of Microsoft Office with back up for VBA macros.
That ways it won't work on an iPad or an Android tablet, but should work on a Surface Pro. It also won't piece of work on a Surface RT – the version of Office that runs on the RT doesn't include VBA macro support.

Will Verbatim work on a Chromebook?

No. Verbatim requires a full version of Word with back up for VBA macros, which currently doesn't run on a Chromebook.

Volition Verbatim work in OpenOffice or Pages?

No, Verbatim is congenital as a template for Microsoft Word, and then requires a full version of Give-and-take to office.

How do I completely uninstall Verbatim?

Windows:
Just run the uninstaller from Add together/Remove programs. If you were using Verbatim'southward "Always On" style, you can utilize the "Unverbatimize Normal Template" push button in the Verbatim Settings before running the uninstaller.
Alternately, to perform a manual uninstall on Windows you simply need to delete the Argue.dotm file and your Normal.dotm file from your Templates folder. Word will automatically regenerate a new Normal.dotm file. The Templates folder is usually located at:
c:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates
Mac:
On the Mac, yous can uninstall past deleting Debate.dotm and Normal.dotm from your My Templates binder.
If you're using Mac Word 2011, the files are located at:
~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates/
and in the My Templates subfolder.
If you're using Mac Word 2016, they're in:
~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Templates
You tin can also delete the Verbatim.scpt file (if present) in:
~/Library/Application Scripts/com.microsoft.Word/
You tin can use Cmd+Shift+K to go direct to the folders to a higher place.

Mac – I can't run the Verbatim Installer.

Usually, this is because your security settings prohibit running installers from the internet. To fix, try running the Verbatim installer package, and then become to the Apple tree menu – System Preferences – Security & Privacy. You'll run across a notice request whether to allow installation to proceed.
Alternately, you tin follow these instructions to change your system settings to permit installation.

Mac – The Setup Magician opens every fourth dimension I open Verbatim.

If the Setup Sorcerer opens every time you lot open Word, it's probable due to a permissions result with your Verbatim preferences file, usually from a previous installation.
To fix, but delete your Verbatim.plist file, which is usually located at ~/Library/Preferences/Verbatim.plist
If your Library folder is hidden by default, yous can press:
Cmd + Shift + G to open up the "Get" menu, and paste:
~/Library/Preferences
And so, delete Verbatim.plist

Why practice I get a virus warning when I download Verbatim?

Some virus scanners (especially Norton/Symantec) may give a imitation positive virus alert when downloading or trying to employ Verbatim.
Don't worry, it's completely safe – there is nothing harmful in Verbatim. Information technology simply sometimes trips an automobile-detection dominion when an installer contains a file with macros. If you're still concerned, Verbatim is open source – you can read every line of lawmaking in it if you're so inclined.
Each new release of Verbatim is submitted to antivirus companies for approving, so the alerts usually go away.
In the interim, you're best off using your antivirus settings to "whitelist" Verbatim. You may need to reinstall Verbatim after doing so.