Several features that affect macros have been changed from Word 97 to Word 2003 (827890)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see 232465.

SUMMARY

No conversion of your Microsoft Word 97 Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macros is required for Word 2003. Several feature changes in Word may affect the execution or result of your Word 97 macros when you run them in Word 2003.

This article discusses some changes that you must be aware of.

Note This article does not cover converting macros from versions of Word earlier than Word 97 that used WordBasic.

For information about how to convert macros from WordBasic to VBA, see the "Converting WordBasic Macros to Visual Basic " article. To view this article, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/vbawd11/html/wohowConvertingWordBasicMacros1_HV05210330.asp

MORE INFORMATION

The following are some of the changes that you must be aware of.

Single Document Interface (SDI)

In earlier versions of Word, the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) was used. Beginning with Word 2000, the Single Document Interface (SDI) replaces MDI. With SDI, every open Word document is represented in a new document window instead of in a new window in the Word program. This may cause problems for those who rely on the old MDI behavior. You must carefully test your code to make sure that this does not cause problems. Problems are most likely to occur if your code uses the Windows Object.

Template Locations

Template locations have changed in Word 2003 to make it easier for roaming profiles. This change may affect your existing macros.

For more information about template locations for Word 2002, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

291141 Description of categories, locations, and registry keys for Word 2002 templates

Note Word 2003 still loads add-ins and templates from your previous Word 97 Startup folder for backward compatibility, but new solutions are stored in the new locations.

Macro Security

Major changes to security have been made in Word 2003; the most important is that Word 2003 is set to high security by default.

Word 2003 automatically loads any document template (*.dot) or Word add-in library (*.wll) that is saved in either of two Startup folders. One of these Startup folders is in the folder that contains the Microsoft Office 2003 program files. The other is in the folder that contains the Microsoft Windows operating system files, or the folder that contains the user's profile on computers with user profiles enabled.

Earlier versions of Word trusted all add-in files in either of these Startup folders if the Trust all installed add-ins and templates check box was selected in the Security dialog box. Word 2003 only trusts one folder, and that folder is specified in the Options dialog box on the File locations tab as the Startup path.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about macro security in Microsoft Word 2003 and Microsoft Office 2003, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

285514 Macros and add-ins do not run when security is set to High in PowerPoint 2003, in PowerPoint 2002, in Word 2003 and in Word 2002

287567 Considerations for disabling VBA in Office

290949 You receive a macros are disabled message when you run a macro in Word 2003 or Word 2002

211607 Frequently asked questions about Word macro viruses

233396 How to reduce the chances of macro virus infection

REFERENCES

For more information about available resources for creating custom solutions by using VBA and Word 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

212623 Macro programming resources

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/27/2006
Keywords:kbinfo KB827890 kbAudEndUser kbAudDeveloper
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