OFF2000: Macro Virus Warning When Inserting MS Excel Workbook

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This article was previously published under Q200132

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SYMPTOMS

When you insert a Microsoft Excel workbook into a document in Microsoft Word 2000 or in a binder in Microsoft Office Binder 2000, you may receive the following 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 message twice.

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

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

-or-
You open a binder that contains an Excel workbook.

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CAUSE

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

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

-or-
In Word, you switch to an embedded workbook that contains macros.

-or-
You open a binder that contains a workbook that contains macros.

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WORKAROUND

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

Remove all the macros from the workbook before you insert it into a Word document or a binder.

-or-
Disable macro virus protection in Excel. To do this, follow these steps:
1. On the Tools menu, point to Macro and click Security.
2. On the Security Level table, click Low. 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.

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The programs included with Office 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 binder by clicking Add From File on the Section menu.

This behavior occurs as a result of how the file is opened or inserted by the program you are currently using.

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