Trouble using OWC PivotTable after installing Windows XP SP2

[Chuck Heatherly]

My company just got us upgraded to Windows XP SP2 last week, and now I have
found that it is much more difficult to use the OWC PivotTable component (all
versions -- 9, 10, and 11).

I am using the component in an HTML page that is local to my PC, and opening it
through Windows Explorer. The page just has an <OBJECT> tag referencing the
CLSID of the component, with a VBScript section that sets the connection string
and the OLAP cube to open.

When I try to do this now, I get a notification on the Information Bar saying
"To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has restricted this file from
showing active content that could access your computer. Click here for
options." When I click on the bar and select "Allow Blocked Content" and then
hit Yes on the dialog box that appears, then the OWC component opens and
displays.

This is not good because I am a software tester, and I have many automated tests
that use OWC to test our OLAP server software. So now, none of my automated
tests can run because of the extra user interaction required.

I have gone to the Security tab of the IE Options and set every ActiveX option
to Enable, I have turned off the pop-up blocker, I have told the Information Bar
to not notify me about problems, but I can not get the OWC component to come up
without being blocked first.

If anyone has any help about what I can do to get this going again, please post!
Again, I am instantiating the control by opening a file on my local file system,
there is no web server in the picture at all.

Thanks,
Chuck

 

[Wei-Dong XU [MSFT]]

Hi Chuck,

The issue you described is the security enhancement introduced at Windows
XP service pack 2. I'd suggest you can configure the internet explorer
security zone to avoid the blocking. The kb article introduces this issue
for you:
843022 You cannot run executable files or program add-ins that are
downloaded
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=843022

Furthermore, since this issue is related to Windows xp sp2 and ie, if the
methods provided at this kb article can't resolve your issue, you can post
to Windows XP and IE newsgroup.
microsoft.public.internetexplorer.security
microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin

Please feel free to let me know if you have any question.

Best Regards,
Wei-Dong XU
Microsoft Product Support Services

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[Wei-Dong XU [MSFT]]

Hi Chuck,

This kb article also provides suggestions for you on this issue:
843015 Pop-up windows appear with Pop-up Blocker turned on in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=843015

Please feel free to let me know if you have any question.

Best Regards,
Wei-Dong XU
Microsoft Product Support Services

When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
Business-Critical Phone Support (BCPS) provides you with technical phone
support at no charge during critical LAN outages or "business down"
situations. This benefit is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all
Microsoft technology partners in the United States and Canada.
This and other support options are available here:
BCPS:
https://partner.microsoft.com/US/technicalsupport/supportoverview/40010469
Others: https://partner.microsoft.com/US/technicalsupport/supportoverview/

If you are outside the United States, please visit our International
Support page:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/international.aspx.
=====================================================
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Chuck Heatherly]

Hi Chuck,

The issue you described is the security enhancement introduced at Windows
XP service pack 2. I'd suggest you can configure the internet explorer
security zone to avoid the blocking. The kb article introduces this issue
for you:
843022 You cannot run executable files or program add-ins that are
downloaded
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=843022

Wei-Dong,

Thanks for getting back to me on this so quickly.

I have found the setting that enabled me to fix my issue, where my tests could
not run OWC controls without any user interaction required. The KB article you
referred to above (843022) was somewhat helpful, but the article actually has a
major inaccurracy in Method 2:

I have looked several times to be sure, but there is no such setting named
"Allow installation of ActiveX controls that have invalid signatures" in the
settings that are available under the Security tab in the IE Internet Options.
There IS a setting under the Security section of the Advanced tab called "Allow
software to run or install even if the signature is invalid". I'm assuming this
is what they mean.

However, the setting that actually fixed my problem is the one directly above
that, called "Allow active content to run in files on My Computer". As soon as
I checked that option, then I stopped seeing the Information Bar when I opened
an HTML file containing an OWC control, and my tests run automated again.

Wei, please let the owners of that KB article know that they are pointing users
to the wrong place for that setting in Method 2.

Thanks again,
Chuck

 

[Wei-Dong XU [MSFT]]

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for providing the feedback about this kb article! I have forwarded
your information to the kb owner. After the reviewing, the necessary
modfication will be applied to this article.

Have a nice weekend! Thank you once more!

Best Regards,
Wei-Dong XU
Microsoft Product Support Services

When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
Business-Critical Phone Support (BCPS) provides you with technical phone
support at no charge during critical LAN outages or "business down"
situations. This benefit is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all
Microsoft technology partners in the United States and Canada.
This and other support options are available here:
BCPS:
https://partner.microsoft.com/US/technicalsupport/supportoverview/40010469
Others: https://partner.microsoft.com/US/technicalsupport/supportoverview/

If you are outside the United States, please visit our International
Support page:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/international.aspx.
=====================================================
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.