WD97: Macro Virus Warning Shows When No Macros Exist in File

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you open a Microsoft Word 97 document or template you get the following Macro Virus Warning message even though the document or template does not contain any macros:

   The document you are opening contains macros or customizations. Some
   macros contain viruses that could harm your computer.

   If you are sure this document is from a trusted source, click Enable
   Macros. If you are not sure and want to prevent any macros from
   running, click Disable Macros.

CAUSE

When you delete macros from a document or template, some macro storage components are left behind. The macro virus protection feature finds this information and the warning message is displayed.

WORKAROUND

Use one of the following methods to create a new Word document that does not contain Word macro storage components:

Method 1: Copy All Information to a New Word File

Create a new document or template and then copy all text, styles, AutoText entries, and so forth, but do not copy any macros to the new file.

Method 2: Save the Word File as Rich Text Format (RTF)

1. Delete all the macros from the file.

2. On the File menu, click Save As.

3. In the Save As dialog box, under Save As Type, click Rich Text Format, and then click OK.

4. Close and then reopen the RTF file you just saved.

5. On the File menu, click Save As.

6. In the Save As dialog box, under Save As Type, click Word Document (*.doc), and then click OK.

7. Close and reopen the document. The macro storage components have been reset.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Macro storage components are not present in a Word document or template until you store a macro in the file. These components exist as supporting structures for the existence and storage of macros in a file. When you delete all of the macros in a file, the macro storage components are not removed. The Macro Virus warning feature of Microsoft Word 97 detects the macro storage components in the file and presents the Macro Virus Warning message when you open the file.

To remove macros from a Word document, do the following:

1. Open the file in Word.

2. On the Tools menu, choose Macro, and then click Macros.

3. From the Macros dialog, select a macro name and then click Delete. This will remove the macro from the file.

4. Repeat step 3 for each of the macros you want to remove.

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.

2. Click to clear the Macro Virus Protection check box, and then click OK.