You receive an error message when you open a workbook that contains XLM macros in Excel 2003 (820739)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
For a Microsoft Excel 2002 version of this article, see 291206.
For a Microsoft Excel 2000 version of this article, see 230889.

Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a workbook, you receive the following error message:
This workbook cannot be opened under High Security Level because it contains a type of macro (Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro) that cannot be disabled or signed. To open this workbook, click Macro on the Tools menu, then click Security. In the Security dialog box, click Medium.
The workbook does not open.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:
  • Your workbook contains Excel 4.0 (XLM) macros.

    -and-
  • The macro security level of Excel has been set to High.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, you must add a key to the registry that allows Excel to run XLM macros when the macro security level is set to High. To do this, follow these steps:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Run box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. In Registry Editor, locate and expand the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel

  4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
  5. Type Security, and then press ENTER.
  6. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
  7. Type XLM, and then press ENTER.
  8. Double-click XLM.
  9. In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, type 1 in the Value data box, and then click OK.
  10. On the File menu, click Exit.

MORE INFORMATION

After you add the XLM key to the registry, you cannot disable XLM macros. This section of this article describes the behavior of Excel after you add the XLM key to the registry.

The Workbook Contains XLM Code

When you open a workbook that contains XLM macro code, you are prompted with the following message:
Filename contains macros.

Macros may contain viruses. It is usually safe to disable macros, but if the macros are legitimate, you may lose some functionality.
If you click Enable Macros, the workbook opens and the XLM macros are available to run. If you click Disable Macros, you receive the following message:
This workbook contains a type of macro (Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro) that cannot be disabled. There may be viruses in these macros. If you are sure this workbook is from a trusted source, click Yes. Open the workbook?
If you click Yes, the workbook opens. The XLM macros are available to run. If you click No, the workbook does not open.

The Workbook Contains XLM Code and Visual Basic for Applications Code

When you open a workbook that contains both XLM code and Visual Basic code, you may receive the following message:
This workbook contains a type of macro (Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro) that cannot be disabled. There may be viruses in these macros. If you are sure this workbook is from a trusted source, click Yes. Open the workbook?
If you click Yes, the workbook opens. The XLM macros are available to run. If you click No, the workbook does not open. Visual Basic macros are not enabled.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/11/2006
Keywords:kbopenfile kberrmsg kbprb KB820739 kbAudEndUser
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