OFFXP: EXD Files Are Created When You Insert Controls (290537)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2002
This article was previously published under Q290537

For a Microsoft Office 2000 and 97 version of this article, see 158875.

SUMMARY

When you run any of the Microsoft Office XP programs, the following new folders are created in the Windows\Temp folder, or in some other folder on your computer. These folders contain files with the .exd extension:
  • Excel8.0
  • Ppt10.0
  • Word8.0
  • Vbe
This article explains why these folders and the .exd files are created, and the effects of deleting them.

MORE INFORMATION

The Office programs create the folders listed above when you use the Control Toolbox to insert an ActiveX control in an Office document. The Office programs also create the folders when you insert any type of control in a custom UserForm in the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor. The following table lists which folders are created when you insert an ActiveX control or another control. 
   Folder      Created by inserting
   -------------------------------------------------------------

   Excel8.0    An ActiveX control in a Microsoft Excel worksheet.

   Ppt10.0     An ActiveX control in a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

   Word8.0     An ActiveX control in a Microsoft Word document.

   Vbe         Any ActiveX control in any Office program or when you create
               a custom UserForm in the Visual Basic Editor.
Normally, the programs create these folders in the Windows\Temp folder. However, if the Windows\Temp folder does not exist, the files may be created elsewhere on your computer.

The first time you insert a control into a document or UserForm, the Office program creates an .exd file for that control in the appropriate folder. After a program creates the .exd file for a specific control, it takes less time to insert the same control again. This is because the .exd file caches information for the control.

The program that creates the .exd files does not delete them when you quit the program. The next time you start the same program and insert the same control, the .exd files are still available for the program to use.

If you delete any of the folders listed above, or any of the .exd files they contain, you do not receive any error messages, and no problems occur. However, you may notice a slight decrease in performance the first time you insert a control because the .exd file for that control does not exist. After the program recreates the .exd file, you can reinsert the control with improved performance.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/13/2003
Keywords:kbhowto KB290537
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