XL97: Macro Virus Warning Appears Opening File Without Macros

ID: Q171661

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you open a Microsoft Excel workbook, you may receive the following message:

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.

You receive this message even when no macros exist in the workbook.

CAUSE

You may receive this error message when the following conditions are true:

You run a macro similar to the following to create the workbook:


      Sub Make_Book()

        Dim x As Workbook
        Application.DisplayAlerts = False
        Set x = Workbooks.Add
        x.Worksheets(1).Delete
        x.Worksheets(1).Range("A1").Value = "test"

      End Sub

-and-

You close, and then open the workbook created by this macro.

-or-

The workbook contains a defined name that uses syntax to refer to nonadjacent cell ranges; however the defined name actually refers to adjacent cell ranges.

-and-

The last three rows in the defined name are rows greater than or equal to row 600 and increase in value from left to right.

For example, if you create a worksheet named "Plan," a defined name that refers to the following ranges causes the problem:
```
         =Plan!$A$1:$A$1,Plan!$A$1:$A$1,Plan!$A$1:$A$1,Plan!$A$1:$A$1,
         Plan!$A$1:$A$1,Plan!$A$1:$A$1,Plan!$A$1:$A$1,Plan!$A$1:$A$600,
         Plan!$A$601:$A$602 
```
NOTE: Other similarly defined names may also cause this behavior.

-or-

The ThisWorkbook module is missing from the workbook in the Project Explorer window in Microsoft Visual Basic Editor.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, install Microsoft Excel 97 Service Release 1 (SR-1).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel 97 SR-1.

For additional information about SR-1, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q172475 OFF97: How to Obtain and Install MS Office 97 SR-1

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel 97, the Macro Virus Protection feature is designed to prevent macro viruses, such as the ExcelMacro/Laroux virus, from running. If you select the Macro Virus Protection check box, you are prompted whether to make macros available whenever you open a workbook that contains macros.

Making Macro Virus Protection Available

To select Macro Virus Protection so that a warning message appears, follow these steps:

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

Click to select the Macro Virus Protection check box.

The macro virus warning should not appear when you open a workbook that does not contain a macro.

REFERENCES

For more information about macro viruses, click the Office Assistant, type "macro virus," click Search, and then click to view "About viruses and workbook macros."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q120802 Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office Program or Component

Additional query words: XL97 sr1


Keywords          : 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: July 12, 1999