Warning Messages Driving Me Crazy!

[Bannor]

I'm using MS Office 2007, but I must save all documents in 2003 format, as I
share my files by email with many people who do not have Office 2007. I send
files to them, and receive files from them each day.

My problem is these annoying error messages I get continuously get whenever
I save a file I have received after opening it that I will 'lose
compatibility' if I use the 2003 file format, and also messages continuously
asking me if I want to use the 2007 file format instead, as it has stronger
encryption (my files have worksheet sheet protection enabled). I use 2007
format for some files that I use only myself, and do not have to share with
anyone. But most files I must save in 2003 format because the people I must
share them with simply do not (and will not) have Office 2007.

I will *NEVER* want to save *ANY* 2003 format file as 2007 format! If I want
to use a file in 2007 format I will create it myself, for my own use! Enough
of these annoying, intrusive, repetative questions already! And YES - I
*HAVE* set all office programs to save as 2003 format as default. The files
are saved as I want them, but I still get these blasted questions all day
every time I want to save a file!

Please, someone tell me how I can switch them off permanently! It's starting
to drive me absolutely nuts!

 

[Beth Melton]

What application are you referring to specifically? Word, for example, has a
"Don't ask me again" check box in the prompt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx

 

[Bannor]

Hi Beth

I'm sorry, I should have specified - Excel (at least, I haven't observed
this behavior in other Office 2007 programs, but then I use Excel almost
exclusively). And yes, each time I tell Excel to NOT ask me again. What does
it do instead? The next time I save this file I get another DIFFERENT warning
advising me that the encryption in 2007 format is stronger than in 2003
format! And this happens with EACH AND EVERY file I open in 2003 format!!! 40
to 50 files per day, on average! It's a real PITA! These are files that, even
though I have created them, they have been sent to other people and used (and
saved) by them, and returned to me. Excel thinks they are new files, opened
for the first time in 2007.

The files themselves are saved as I want, in 2003 format. That's not the
problem. The problem is being 'warned' each time I save any file in 2003
format! It has got to the point of being VERY annoying!

Please tell me how to disable ALL such warnings, in ALL Office programs!
Permanently! This behavior exhibited by 2007 is completely unacceptable!

Please help me to solve this problem, or soon I will just uninstall 2007 and
toss it in the bin, and go back to 2003 and at least not be bothered by these
blasted warnings all day, every day!

Thankyou!

 

[Bannor]

Perhaps I should clarify that the actual warning refers to a 'loss of
functionality', but as far as I can tell, I am NOT losing any functionality
whatsoever by saving in 2003 format. Excel 2007 just *thinks* that some
information may be lost, but no loss occurs. The saved 2003 format files can
be opened without problem either by myself, or by those to whom I send the
files, in Excel 2003 or Excel 2007, and are fully functional. This makes
these warnings even more exasperating - they are *completely* unneccessary!

I will deeply appreciate any help anyone can give me with this!

Thank you very much

 

[Beth Melton]

That's okay - I suspected you were referring to Excel. There isn’t a way
within the application to turn off the Compatibility Checker in Excel
globally, as you can in Word, BUT a fellow MVP (Excel MVP) has an add-in he
developed that should help with existing files. He says it’s not perfect but
it should help. I haven’t had a chance to test this but here’s the link to
the add-in along with instructions on how to use it:
http://www.excelguru.ca/node/105

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx

 

[Bannor]

Beth

You and Ken Puls are lifesavers! Thankyou so much! Even if it doesn't work
as fully as the author would like, it's still FAR better than nothing! I find
it difficult to understand how, knowing that unwanted warnings have probably
been THE #1 complaint through the years, Microsoft insists on inflicting them
on us with no way to switch them off! Are they unable to learn from the past,
or do they just delight in tormenting us?

(I know you will be unable to answer this last question)

Once again, thankyou!

 

[Beth Melton]

I'm glad to hear Ken's add-in works for you.

....and you're right, I can't answer the last question. The fact they allow
you to suppress it in Word but not in Excel leaves me scratching my head as
well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx