"Open XML Converter...1.1.3" -- keeps showing up in MAU?

[Steve Maser]

The "Open XML File Format Converter for Mac 1.1.3" was released (along
with the Office 12.2.3 patch) today.


However, installing the XML update via Microsoft AutoUpdate...

It keeps reappearing in Microsoft AutoUpdate after I install it
(regardless if I installed the 12.2.3 patch or not).


Is anybody else seeing this?

If so, how do we report it to MS so it stops? (Or what do I have to
fix on my computer so it doesn't keep showing up?)

Thanks!

- Steve

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

It keeps reappearing in Microsoft AutoUpdate after I install it
(regardless if I installed the 12.2.3 patch or not).

Why do you need it?
If you have Office 2008, the functionalities are built in.
It was my understanding this app was mostly for previous versions of
Office.

What are you trying to do with it?

Corentin

 

[Steve Maser]

Why do you need it?
If you have Office 2008, the functionalities are built in.
It was my understanding this app was mostly for previous versions of
Office.

What are you trying to do with it?

Corentin

I also have Office 2004 installed (as we still require VBA for many
internal spreadsheets) -- Office "2011" can't come fast enough for us,
actually...



That said, I don't necessarily know *why* I need the XML Converter.

I just recall installing an earlier version via MAU -- so this must be
updating that previously-installed version.


My master load set for 10.6.2 (and 10.5.8) did not have this show up
there -- so this might be unique to my computer.


But, the point is -- it's still showing up after installing it (twice
now) -- and I'm not sure how to get MAU to understand that I've already
installed it.


And, oddly enough, if it's really only useful for Office 2004 -- it
only shows up when I run MAU 2.0 (the Office 2008 version) -- not the
MAU that comes with Office 2004.


- Steve

 

[Steve Maser]

My master load set for 10.6.2 (and 10.5.8) did not have this show up
there -- so this might be unique to my computer.

And, to reply to myself...

On my master machine that updated to 11.5.6 and 12.2.3 successfully
*without* the prompt (still) for the XML update , the folder:

/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office Converter Support

contains this:

drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 10 13:49 MSXML.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 10 13:49
MicrosoftChartPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 10 13:49
MicrosoftComponentPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 10 13:49 MicrosoftOLE.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 10 13:49
MicrosoftOLEAutomation.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 10 13:49 MicrosoftOffice.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 10 13:49 MicrosoftOleo.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 10 13:49 OfficeArt.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 root admin 102 Aug 6 17:02 Open XML for Charts.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 root admin 102 Jul 21 08:53 Open XML for Excel.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 10 13:49 Open XML for
Excel.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 10 13:49 SmartArt.framework


(owned by root -- which is what I see on other machines I've updated to
12.2.3...)



What I see on my computer contains more files:

drwxrwxr-x@ 3 maser staff 102 May 1 2008 MFConverter.bundle
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34 MSXML.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34
MicrosoftChartPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34
MicrosoftComponentPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34 MicrosoftOLE.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34
MicrosoftOLEAutomation.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34 MicrosoftOffice.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34 MicrosoftOleo.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34 OfficeArt.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 maser staff 102 Aug 6 16:58 Open XML for Charts.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 maser staff 102 Aug 6 16:58 Open XML for Excel.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34 Open XML for
Excel.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 maser staff 102 Aug 6 16:58 Open XML for Word.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34 Open XML for
Word.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 maser staff 170 Nov 10 14:34 SmartArt.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 maser staff 102 Aug 6 16:58 pptfc.app


All owned by me...


So something is clearly different...

- Steve

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

Hi Steve

I didn't realize it was you at first,

I also have Office 2004 installed (as we still require VBA for many
internal spreadsheets) -- Office "2011" can't come fast enough for us,
actually...



That said, I don't necessarily know *why* I need the XML Converter.

The XML converter allows Office 2004 to access the new file format
native to 2008.

Hae you tried a simple reboot after updating to see whether it refreshes
the Finder and stops folling the updater into believing you still need
it?

Corentin

 

[Steve Maser]

The XML converter allows Office 2004 to access the new file format
native to 2008.

Hae you tried a simple reboot after updating to see whether it refreshes
the Finder and stops folling the updater into believing you still need
it?

Corentin

Not as yet. I'm compiling something that will need to run overnight.
I can try that in the a.m.


However another user here showed me the same thing on his Mac. I
think whoever got the first XML update installed when it appeared in
MAU is probably in this same predicament.


The fact that *manually* running the XML 1.1.3 updater changes
permissions on the folder, though, sounds like the bug regardless -- if
you never had the XML update installed, everything is owned by "root".

Otherwise, if you did, it's owned by the admin account used to install
this.


- Steve

 

[Diane Ross]

It keeps reappearing in Microsoft AutoUpdate after I install it
(regardless if I installed the 12.2.3 patch or not).

The updater is probably seeing another copy of the file on another partition
that needs updating. You will need to boot from the other partition to
update. I don't know why the installer even looks on another partition since
it won¹t let you install on anything but the boot drive.

 

[Steve Maser]

The updater is probably seeing another copy of the file on another partition
that needs updating. You will need to boot from the other partition to
update. I don't know why the installer even looks on another partition since
it won¹t let you install on anything but the boot drive.

That is *not* the case on the machines here. These are machines with
one hard disk and no other drives mounted (either via hard connection
or networking.)

There's a problem with this update.

- Steve

 

[Steve Maser]

That is *not* the case on the machines here. These are machines with

one hard disk and no other drives mounted (either via hard connection
or networking.)

There's a problem with this update.

- Steve

Actually -- something similar has happened before with this application.

Check out the responses here from VersionTracker:

http://www.versiontracker.com/php/feedback/article.php?story=20090609134
54659#comments


However, in my case, all the files in "Office Converter Support" are
all versioned 12.2.3

So it's not clear why the update is doing this this time around.

But it's apparently not a "new" issue -- it's something MS needs to
look at.

Maybe it's a 10.6 issue? Maybe you had to have had a previous version
-- 0.21? 1.0.x? -- installed first?

But the permissions change on the directory once installed is certainly
problematic in it's own right.

- Steve

 

[Diane Ross]

But the permissions change on the directory once installed is certainly
problematic in it's own right.

I've forwarded this to the developer.

 

[Steve Maser]

I've forwarded this to the developer.

The weird thing about this?


I can remove the "com.microsoft.autoupdate2.plist" file from my
~/Library/Preferences folder.


That stops the Open XML 1.1.3 from showing again.



However, I tried this on a machine that didn't (yet) install the 12.2.3
update.

When I remove the .plist file from *that* machine and rerun MAU -- it
says there are no updates.

But then I *ran* Excel 2008, and then *reran* MAU.

And the 12.2.3 updater showed on that box after running an office
application.


So maybe that's a fix for this?


(However, it still doesn't address the permissions issue with the XML
1.1.3 installer...)


- Steve

 

[CyberTaz]

Actually -- something similar has happened before with this application.

Check out the responses here from VersionTracker:

http://www.versiontracker.com/php/feedback/article.php?story=20090609134
54659#comments


However, in my case, all the files in "Office Converter Support" are
all versioned 12.2.3

So it's not clear why the update is doing this this time around.

But it's apparently not a "new" issue -- it's something MS needs to
look at.

Maybe it's a 10.6 issue? Maybe you had to have had a previous version
-- 0.21? 1.0.x? -- installed first?

But the permissions change on the directory once installed is certainly
problematic in it's own right.

- Steve

Hi Steve;

The conversation you linked to revolved around a valid issue at the time
[June 2009] which was discussed here as well. However, this is a different
matter. The Converter update is installing properly but AU isn't recognizing
that it has done so. Consequently, it wants to d/l & install it again each
time AU runs ‹ and will do so if you let it

As Diane replied, the matter has been reported. In the mean time, you might
consider just setting AU to run less frequently or temporarily turning it
off altogether. Even if it's allowed to run you can simply Cancel the
operation. I realize that both options are a PITA, but there's no need to
actually do the install each time AU offers it. At least those options
should alleviate the permissions issues.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Steve Maser]

As Diane replied, the matter has been reported. In the mean time, you might

consider just setting AU to run less frequently or temporarily turning it
off altogether. Even if it's allowed to run you can simply Cancel the
operation. I realize that both options are a PITA, but there's no need to
actually do the install each time AU offers it. At least those options
should alleviate the permissions issues.

Well, not the permissions issues -- those occur once the XML 1.1.3
update is installed (regardless of the MAU issue).


Here's the permissions of the folder before 12.2.3 is installed:

=ffice converter support root# pwd
/library/application support/microsoft/office converter support

ffice converter support root# ls -la
total 0
drwxrwxr-x 14 root admin 476 Aug 6 17:02 .
drwxrwxr-x 7 root admin 238 Aug 26 15:02 ..
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Aug 6 17:01 MSXML.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Aug 6 17:01
MicrosoftChartPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Aug 6 17:01
MicrosoftComponentPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Aug 6 17:01 MicrosoftOLE.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Aug 6 17:01
MicrosoftOLEAutomation.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Aug 6 17:01 MicrosoftOffice.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Aug 6 17:01 MicrosoftOleo.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Aug 6 17:01 OfficeArt.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 root admin 102 Aug 6 17:02 Open XML for Charts.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 root admin 102 Jul 21 08:53 Open XML for Excel.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Aug 6 17:01 Open XML for
Excel.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Aug 6 17:01 SmartArt.framework


Here's what happens after installing 12.2.3 from MAU:

ffice converter support root# ls -la
total 0
drwxrwxr-x 14 root admin 476 Aug 6 17:02 .
drwxrwxr-x 7 root admin 238 Aug 26 15:02 ..
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:13 MSXML.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:13
MicrosoftChartPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:13
MicrosoftComponentPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:13 MicrosoftOLE.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:13
MicrosoftOLEAutomation.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:13 MicrosoftOffice.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:13 MicrosoftOleo.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:13 OfficeArt.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 root admin 102 Aug 6 17:02 Open XML for Charts.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 root admin 102 Jul 21 08:53 Open XML for Excel.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:13 Open XML for
Excel.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:13 SmartArt.framework
ott-dhcp-95ffice converter support root#



Here's what happens after I manually install XML 1.1.3 (the account I
installed from what named "admin" on this test box):

ott-dhcp-95ffice converter support root# ls -la
total 0
drwxrwxr-x 18 root admin 612 Nov 11 11:16 .
drwxrwxr-x 7 root admin 238 Aug 26 15:02 ..
drwxrwxr-x 3 _unknown _unknown 102 Oct 1 04:06 MFConverter.bundle
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:16 MSXML.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftChartPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftComponentPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftOLE.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftOLEAutomation.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftOffice.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftOleo.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:16 OfficeArt.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 root admin 102 Aug 6 17:02 Open XML for
Charts.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 root admin 102 Jul 21 08:53 Open XML for
Excel.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:16 Open XML for
Excel.framework
drwxrwxr-x 3 _unknown _unknown 102 Oct 1 06:27 Open XML for
Word.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 _unknown _unknown 170 Nov 11 11:15 Open XML for
Word.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:16 SmartArt.framework
drwxrwxr-x 3 _unknown _unknown 102 Oct 1 06:17 pptfc.app
ott-dhcp-95ffice converter support root#



*That's* a larger problem. (Because I dumped my
"com.microsoft.autoupdate2.plist file prior to doing this -- I'm not
getting anything show up in MAU again after this -- yet...)

- Steve

 

[Diane Ross]

On 11/11/09 6:59 AM, in article 111120090959380678%[email protected], "Steve

The original issue with the MAU is now fixed. It was an error on their
server.

Your second question....

The weird thing about this?

I can remove the "com.microsoft.autoupdate2.plist" file from my
~/Library/Preferences folder.

Here is the explanation from the developer.

The plist holds the registration of items.

If you delete it, MAU does not know of anything on your machine, so it is
not going to go look for anything.

Once he ran Excel, Excel was now written to the plist and so MAU knew to go
look for any update to Excel.

Because our listing in the backend for Excel is the same as for any of the
other office apps, he gets the Office update. (and no it is not a problem
that Word, PPT, and Entourage are no longer in his plist ­ they will be
added back as he launches them).

The converter is the same way, it will not be in the plist until he launches
the converter and tries to convert something.

 

[Steve Maser]

On 11/11/09 6:59 AM, in article 111120090959380678%[email protected], "Steve

The original issue with the MAU is now fixed. It was an error on their
server.


Cool.


The converter is the same way, it will not be in the plist until he launches
the converter and tries to convert something.

Fair enough.


What about the permissions change on the files in the "Office Converter
Support" folder, though, when you install this?


I did another test install on another box -- manually installing 12.2.3
first and then the Open XML installer.


The extra files installed by the Open XML installer are owned by
"_unknown:_unknown" when I do this:


drwxrwxr-x 18 root admin 612 Nov 11 11:16 .
drwxrwxr-x 7 root admin 238 Aug 26 15:02 ..
drwxrwxr-x 3 _unknown _unknown 102 Oct 1 04:06 MFConverter.bundle
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:16 MSXML.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftChartPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftComponentPlugin.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftOLE.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftOLEAutomation.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftOffice.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:15
MicrosoftOleo.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:16 OfficeArt.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 root admin 102 Aug 6 17:02 Open XML for
Charts.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 3 root admin 102 Jul 21 08:53 Open XML for
Excel.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:16 Open XML for
Excel.framework
drwxrwxr-x 3 _unknown _unknown 102 Oct 1 06:27 Open XML for
Word.app
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 _unknown _unknown 170 Nov 11 11:15 Open XML for
Word.framework
drwxrwxr-x@ 5 root admin 170 Nov 11 11:16 SmartArt.framework
drwxrwxr-x 3 _unknown _unknown 102 Oct 1 06:17 pptfc.app
ott-dhcp-95:Office Converter Support root#




That's not right...

- Steve

 

[Diane Ross]

What about the permissions change on the files in the "Office Converter
Support" folder, though, when you install this?

I don't have any feedback on this yet. I have seen similar permissions
issues with several files after installing Snow Leopard.

Since the Open XML converter is not needed by Office 2008 this could be part
of the problem.