OFF97: Macro Virus Warning When Inserting MS Excel Workbook (170974)

SYMPTOMS

When you insert a Microsoft Excel workbook into a document in Microsoft Word 97 or in a Binder in Microsoft Office Binder 97, you may receive the following error message:

Microsoft Excel
The workbook you are opening contains macros. Some macros may contain harmful viruses. If you are sure this workbook is from a trusted source, click Yes. If you are not sure and want to prevent any macros from running, click No.

Note that you receive the same error message twice.

You may also receive the same error message once when you perform either of the following actions:

You switch to a Microsoft Excel workbook that is embedded in a Microsoft Word document.

-or-
You open an Office Binder that contains a Microsoft Excel workbook.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if any of the following conditions are true:

You insert a Microsoft Excel workbook that contains macros into either a Word document or an Office binder.

-or-
In Word 97, you switch to an embedded workbook that contains macros. -or-
You open a Binder that contains a workbook that contains macros.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use one of the following two methods:

Remove all of the macros from the workbook before you insert it into a Word document or a Microsoft Office Binder.

-or-
Disable macro virus protection in Microsoft Excel 97. To do this, follow these steps:
1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. Click the General tab.
3. Click to clear the "Macro virus protection" check box, and then click OK.
NOTE: If you do this, you are not warned when you open a workbook that contains macros. This makes it possible for Microsoft Excel workbooks to become infected with macro viruses if you open a workbook that contains one. Use this option with caution.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The programs included with Microsoft Office 97 that support the use of Visual Basic for Applications macros also include macro virus protection. If this feature is selected, you receive a warning message whenever you open a file (such as a workbook or a document) that contains macros.

In some cases, you may receive a macro virus warning message twice when you open a file by using any of the following methods:

You open the file in the program that created it.
You insert the file into a document in another program.
You insert the file into a Microsoft Office Binder by clicking Add From File on the Section menu.

This behavior occurs because of the way in which the file is opened or inserted by the program you are currently using.