Updated: 2009-08-06

In this article:

Overview of new and updated Group Policy and OCT settings

This article contains information about the new and updated 2007 Microsoft Office system Group Policy and Office Customization Tool (OCT) settings that are included in the 2007 Office system (SP2) Administrative Template files (ADM, ADMX, ADML) and Office Customization Tool (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=144523) release.

The download includes an \Admin folder that contains an updated Office Customization Tool (OCT) and ADMX and ADML versions of the 2007 Office system Administrative Template files for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

Also included is an updated Microsoft Office Excel 2007 workbook (Office2007GroupPolicyAndOCTSettings.xls) that provides information about all of the 2007 Office system Group Policy settings and OPA settings.

NoteNote:

The workbook that is included with the download (Office2007GroupPolicyAndOCTSettings.xls) does not include Office Outlook 2007 ADMX, ADML, and ADM settings. For an updated, complete workbook, see 2007 Office system Group Policy and OCT Settings reference.

This article lists the new, updated, and removed settings in three tables. Unless otherwise noted, you will find Group Policy settings under the User Configuration/Administrative Templates node of the Group Policy Object Editor and OCT settings on the Modify user settings page of the OCT.

ImportantImportant:

If you have previously configured any of the Group Policy settings affected by this update, you must set those policy settings to their Not Configured state before you remove the previous 2007 Office system ADM files and load the updated version 3 ADM files. This removes the registry key information for the policy setting from the registry. This is because if an .adm file is removed, the settings that correspond to the .adm file do not appear in Group Policy Object Editor; however, the policy settings that are configured from the .adm file remain in the Registry.pol file and continue to apply to the appropriate target client or user. This also applies to any policy settings that you had previously configured that are listed in "Removed settings" later in this article.

To obtain information about the policy settings that are currently in effect for the Group Policy object (GPO) linked to the domain or organizational unit that contains a given computer or user, you can use Group Policy Results in Group Policy Management Console. To access Group Policy Results data for a user or computer, you must have Read Group Policy Results data permission on the domain or organizational unit that contains the user or computer, or you must be a member of the Administrators group on the targeted local computer.

For information about Group Policy Management Console, see the "Using Group Policy Management Console and Group Policy Object Editor" section in Enforce settings by using Group Policy in the 2007 Office system. For more information about how to report by using Group Policy Results, see Reporting on GPO Settings (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104725) and Determine Resultant Set of Policy with Group Policy Results (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104724).

New settings

The following table lists the Group Policy and OCT settings that are new in this release. All new settings included in this release (with one exception) address OpenDocument file formats in the 2007 Office system. For more information about the Group Policy and OCT settings that address OpenDocument file formats, see Group Policy and Office Customization Tool settings that address OpenDocument Format and Open XML Formats in the 2007 Office system.

Application Setting name Group Policy Object Editor location OCT location Notes

Excel

Block opening of OpenDocument spreadsheet (.ods) file types

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Block file formats\Open

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Block saving of OpenDocument spreadsheet (.ods) file types

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Block file formats\Save

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Turn on an external converter as the default for a file extension

Microsoft Office Excel 2007 (Machine)\Converters

NoteNote:

You will find this setting under the Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates node of the Group Policy Object Editor.

Microsoft Office Excel 2007 (Machine)\Converters

Turn off import converters for Excel

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Block file formats\Open\Converters

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Turn off export converters for Excel

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Block file formats\Save\Converters

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Block specific export converters based on class ID (CLSID)

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Block file formats\Save\Converters

This setting is not available in the OCT.

A known issue exists for this policy setting; however, a workaround is available. For more information, see "Important" note following this table.

Suppress file format compatibility dialog box for OpenDocument spreadsheet format

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Excel Options\Save

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Excel Options\Save

PowerPoint

Block opening of OpenDocument presentation (.odp) file types

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\Block file formats\Open

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Block saving of OpenDocument presentation (.odp) file types

Microsoft Office PowerPoint2007\Block file formats\Save

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Turn on an external converter as the default for a file extension

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 \Block File Formats\Open\Converters

NoteNote:

This policy setting will be available only if you clear the Only show policy settings that can be fully managed check box. To find this option, from the menu, click View, and then click Filtering.

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Turn off import converters for PowerPoint

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\Block file formats\Open\Converters

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Turn off export converters for PowerPoint

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\Block file formats\Save\Converters

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Block specific export converters based on class ID (CLSID)

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\Block file formats\Save\Converters

This setting is not available in the OCT.

A known issue exists for this policy setting; however, a workaround is available. For more information, see "Important" note following this table.

Suppress file format compatibility dialog box for OpenDocument presentation format

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\PowerPoint Options\Save

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\PowerPoint Options\Save

Word

Block opening of OpenDocument text (.odt) file types

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Block file formats\Open

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Block saving of OpenDocument text (.odt) file types

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Block file formats\Save

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Turn on an external converter as the default for a file extension policy for Microsoft Office Word

Microsoft Office Word 2007 (Machine)\Converters

NoteNote:

You will find this setting under the Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates node of the Group Policy Object Editor.

Microsoft Office Word 2007 (Machine)\Converters

Turn off import converters for Word

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Block file formats\Open\Converters

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Turn off export converters for Word

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Block file formats\Save\Converters

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Block specific import converters based on class ID (CLSID)

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Block file formats\Open\Converters

This setting is not available in the OCT.

A known issue exists for this policy setting; however, a workaround is available. For more information, see "Important" note following this table.

Block specific export converters based on class ID (CLSID)

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Block file formats\Save\Converters

This setting is not available in the OCT.

A known issue exists for this policy setting; however, a workaround is available. For more information, see "Important" note following this table.

Suppress file format compatibility dialog box for OpenDocument text format

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Word Options\Save

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Word Options\Save

Office 2007 Converters

Do not show conversion message on open

NoteNote:

This setting does not address OpenDocument file formats.

Office 2007 Converters\Microsoft Office Word

This setting is not available in the OCT.

ImportantImportant:

The following policy settings do not function as expected because of a registry issue:

  • Block specific import converters based on class ID (CLSID)

  • Block specific export converters based on class ID (CLSID)

The issue is that a registry key for the converter that is type REG_SZ is created, when it should be type DWORD. To work around this issue, you can manually create a registry key for the converter:

  1. Open the registry (Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK).

  2. Under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, right-click either the Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\ [Word|Excel|PPT]\Security\FileOpenBlock\OOXML Converters (if you are using the import version of the policy setting) or Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\[Word|Excel|PPT]\Security\FileSaveBlock\OOXML Converters (if you are using the export version of the policy setting) key.

  3. Click New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) value.

  4. For the name of the new registry key, type the name of the converter, and then press Enter.

  5. Double-click to open the new key.

  6. In the Value data box, type 1 if you want to block the converter, or type 0 if you want to allow the converter, and then click OK.

Updated settings

The following table lists the Group Policy and OCT settings that have been updated in this release.

Application Setting name Group Policy Object Editor location OCT location Notes

Access

List of eror messages to customize

Microsoft Office Access 2007\Customizable Error Messages

Microsoft Office Access 2007\Customizable Error Messages

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Disable commands

Microsoft Office Access 2007\Disable items in User Interface\Predefined

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Excel

Comments

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Excel Options\Advanced

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Excel Options\Advanced

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

List of error messages to customize

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Customizable Error Messages

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Customizable Error Messages

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Disable commands

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Disable Items in User Interface\Predefined

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Internet and network paths as hyperlinks

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Excel options\Proofing\Autocorrect Options

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Excel options\Proofing\Autocorrect Options

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Default file format

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Excel Options\Save

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Excel Options\Save

Option to use OpenDocument spreadsheet (.ods) file format as a default file format was added.

InfoPath

Ink Entry

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Tools|Options…\Ink

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Tools|Options…\Ink

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Display a warning dialog box that user is entering text in Ink entry mode

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Tools|Options…\Ink

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Tools|Options…\Ink

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Display a shaded ink guide for handwriting

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Tools|Options…\Ink

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Tools|Options…\Ink

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Enable AutoRecover

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Tools|Options…\Advanced

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Tools|Options…\Advanced

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Allow the use of ActiveX Custom Controls in InfoPath forms

Microsoft Office Infopath 2007\Security

Microsoft Office Infopath 2007\Security

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Run forms in restricted mode if they do not specify a publish location and use only features introduced before InfoPath 2003 SP1

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Security

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Security

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Prevent users from allowing unsafe file types to be attached to forms

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Security

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Security

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Display a warning that a form is digitally signed

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Security

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007\Security

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Office 2007 system

Graphic filter legacy mode

Microsoft Office 2007 system\Miscellaneous

Microsoft Office 2007 \Miscellaneous

Policy setting has been moved from class User to class Machine

Display menus and dialog boxes in

Microsoft Office 2007 system\Language settings\Display Language

Microsoft Office 2007 system\Language settings\Display Language

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Outlook

Change CTRL+ENTER shortcut behavior

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Tools|Options…\Preferences\E-mail Options

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Tools|Options…\Preferences\E-mail Options

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Secondary calendar settings

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Tools|Options…\Preferences\Calendar Options

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Tools|Options…\Preferences\Calendar Options

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Automatically journal these items

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Tools|Options…\Preferences\Journal Options

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Tools|Options…\Preferences\Journal Options

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Disable command bar buttons and menu items

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Disable items in User Interface\Predefined

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Disable items in User Interface\Predefined

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Do not permit download of content from safe zones

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Security\Automatic Picture Download Settings

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Security\Automatic Picture Download Settings

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Include Internet in Safe Zones for Automatic Picture Download

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Security\Automatic Picture Download Settings

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Security\Automatic Picture Download Settings

Corresponding registry key repaired.

Include Intranet in Safe Zones for Automatic Picture Download

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Security\Automatic Picture Download Settings

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Security\Automatic Picture Download Settings

Corresponding registry key repaired.

PowerPoint

List of error messages to customize

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\Customizable Error Messages

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\Customizable Error Messages

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Disable commands

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\Disable Items in User Interface\Predefined

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Default file format

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\PowerPoint Options\Save

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\PowerPoint Options\Save

Option to use OpenDocument presentation (.odp) file format as a default file format was added.

Microsoft Office Visio 2007

List of error messages to customize

Microsoft Office Visio 2007\Customizable Error Messages

Microsoft Office Visio 2007\Customizable Error Messages

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Disable commands

Microsoft Office Visio 2007\Disable Items in User Interface\Predefined

Microsoft Office Visio 2007\Disable Items in User Interface\Predefined

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Word

List of error messages to customize

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Customizable Error Messages

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Customizable Error Messages

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Disable commands

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Disable Items in User Interface\Predefined

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Show all windows in the Taskbar

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Word Options\Advanced\E-mail Options

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Word Options\Advanced\E-mail Options

Group Policy setting has been updated so that ADMX version functions as expected.

Check spelling as you type

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Word Options\Proofing

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Word Options\Proofing

Default file format

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Word Options\Save

This setting is not available in the OCT.

Option to use OpenDocument text (.odt) file format as a default file format was added.

Removed settings

The following table lists the Group Policy and OCT settings that have been removed from this release.

Application Setting name Group Policy Object Editor location OCT location Notes

Excel

Recognize Smart Tags

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Miscellaneous

Microsoft Office Excel 2007\Miscellaneous

This setting is a duplicate of a setting of the same name that resides under Office 2007 System\Tools | Autocorrect Options…(Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access)\Smart Tags.

Outlook

Turn off Enable the Person Names Smart Tag option

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Tools|Options…\Other\Person Names

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Tools|Options…\Other\Person Names

This setting was named incorrectly and had been assigned an incorrect registry key.

Modify number of changed items included in SharePoint client page download

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Tools|Account Settings\SharePoint Lists

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Tools|Account Settings\SharePoint

This setting is a duplicate (listed twice).

PowerPoint

Custom Answer Wizard database path

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\Miscellaneous

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007\Miscellaneous

This setting is obsolete in the 2007 Office system.

Word

Save smart tags in e-mail

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Word Options\Advanced\E-mail Options

Microsoft Office Word 2007\Word Options\Advanced\E-mail Options

This setting is obsolete in the 2007 Office system.

Files included in this download

This download contains the following folders and files:

Office2007GroupPolicyAndOCTSettings.xls

AdminTemplates.exe

        \ADMX: The ADMX folder contains XML-based versions (.admx or .adml files) of the Administrative Template files for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Administrative template files in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista are divided into ADMX (language-neutral) and ADML (language-specific) files. By default, the %systemroot%\PolicyDefinitions folder on a local computer stores all ADMX files. ADML files are stored in language-specific folders under the %systemroot%\PolicyDefinitions folder. Each language subfolder contains the .adml files for that language; for example, the English language ADML files would be stored in the %systemroot%\PolicyDefinitions\en-us folder. Languages included are Chinese Simplified (People's Republic of China), Chinese (Hong Kong SAR), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. The files stored in the \ADMX folder are:

            access12.admx

            cpao12.admx

            excel12.admx

            groove12.admx

            ic12.admx

            inf12.admx

            office12.admx

            onent12.admx

            outlk12.admx

            ppt12.admx

            proj12.admx

            pub12.admx

            spd12.admx

            visio12.admx

            word12.admx

                \de-de: Contains the German language version of the .adml files.

                \en-us: Contains the English language version of the .adml files.

                    access12.adml

                    cpao12.adml

                    excel12.adml

                    groove12.adml

                    ic12.adml

                    inf12.adml

                    office12.adml

                    onent12.adml

                    outlk12.adml

                    ppt12.adml

                    proj12.adml

                    pub12.adml

                    spd12.adml

                    visio12.adml

                    word12.adml

                \es-es: Contains the Spanish language version of the .adml files.

                \fr-fr: Contains the French language version of the .adml files.

                \it-it: Contains the Italian language version of the .adml files.

                \ja-jp: Contains the Japanese language version of the .adml files.

                \ko-kr: Contains the Korean language version of the .adml files.

                \zh-cn: Contains the Chinese Simplified (People's Republic of China) language version of the .adml files.

                \zh-tw: Contains the Chinese (Hong Kong SAR) language version of the .adml files.

        \ADM: Contains the updated .adm files. Each of the language subfolders contains the .adm files for that language. For example, the en-us subfolder contains the English-US version of the .adm files. Languages included are Chinese Simplified (People's Republic of China), Chinese (Hong Kong SAR), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.

            \de-de: Contains the German language version of the .adm files.

            \en-us

                access12.adm

                cpao12.adm

                excel12.adm

                groove12.adm

                ic12.adm

                inf12.adm

                office12.adm

                onent12.adm

                outlk12.adm

                ppt12.adm

                proj12.adm

                pub12.adm

                spd12.adm

                visio12.adm

                word12.adm

            \es-es: Contains the Spanish language version of the .adm files.

            \fr-fr: Contains the French language version of the .adm files.

            \it-it: Contains the Italian language version of the .adm files.

            \ja-jp: Contains the Japanese language version of the .adm files.

            \ko-kr: Contains the Korean language version of the .adm files.

            \zh-cn: Contains the Chinese Simplified (People's Republic of China) language version of the .adm files.

            \zh-tw: Contains the Chinese (Hong Kong SAR) language version of the .adm files.

        \Admin: Contains the updated OPA files, oct.dll, and octca.dll files. These files contain all previous hotfix updates that affected the OCT. For more information, see Description of the 2007 Office system hotfix package: October 28, 2008 and Description of the 2007 Office system hotfix package (OCT): December 16, 2008. Each of the language subfolders contains the .opa files for that language, the Office Customization Help file (OCT.chm), and octres.dll files. For example, the en-us subfolder contains the English-US version of these files. Languages included are Chinese Simplified (People's Republic of China), Chinese (Hong Kong SAR), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.

            oct.dll

            octca.dll

                \de-de: Contains the German language version of the files in the \en-us subfolder.

                \en-us: Contains the .opa files, oct.chm Help file, and octres.dll files.

                    access12.opa

                    cpao12.opa

                    excel12.opa

                    groove12.opa

                    ic12.opa

                    inf12.opa

                    office12.opa

                    onent12.opa

                    outlk12.opa

                    ppt12.opa

                    proj12.opa

                    pub12.opa

                    spd12.opa

                    visio12.opa

                    word12.opa

                    oct.chm Help file

                    octres.dll

                \es-es: Contains the Spanish language version of the .opa, oct.chm, and octres.dll files.

                \fr-fr: Contains the French language version of the .opa, oct.chm, and octres.dll files.

                \it-it: Contains the Italian language version of the .opa, oct.chm, and octres.dll files.

                \ja-jp: Contains the Japanese language version of the .opa, oct.chm, and octres.dll files.

                \ko-kr: Contains the Korean language version of the .opa, oct.chm, and octres.dll files.

                \zh-cn: Contains the Chinese Simplified (People's Republic of China) language version of the .opa, oct.chm, and octres.dll files.

                \zh-tw: Contains the Chinese (Hong Kong SAR) language version of the .opa, oct.chm, and octres.dll files.

For information about how to download these updates, see 2007 Office system (SP2) Administrative Template files (ADM, ADMX, ADML) and Office Customization Tool (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=144523).

For information about how to use the ADM files, see the "2007 Office System Administrative Template Files" and "Using Group Policy Management Console and Group Policy Object Editor" sections in Enforce settings by using Group Policy in the 2007 Office system.

For information about how to use ADMX files for Windows Vista, see Managing Group Policy ADMX Files Step-by-Step Guide (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=75124).

For information about how to use the Office Customization Tool, see Office Customization Tool in the 2007 Office system and Create different configurations of the 2007 Office system for different groups of users.

How to install the updates

To install the updated settings for Group Policy and the OCT, first download the 2007 Office system (SP2) Administrative Template files (ADM, ADMX, ADML) and Office Customization Tool (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=144523) release, and then and follow the download instructions to extract the files to your local computer. You can then perform any of the following tasks.

Load the ADM template files

  1. To open the Group Policy Object Editor, click Start, click Run, type gpedit.msc, and then click Enter.

  2. In the console tree, under User Configuration, click Administrative Templates.

  3. From the menu, click Action, and then click Add/Remove Templates.

  4. In the Add/Remove Templates box, click Add, and then browse to and double-click the ADM folder that you downloaded as part of the update release.

  5. Double-click the folder that contains the ADM files in the language you intend to use; for example, for English ADM files, this is the en-us folder.

  6. Select all the .adm files in the dialog box, click Open, choose to copy and replace files when prompted, and then click Close.

  7. Access the newly updated ADM templates in the Group Policy Object Editor by opening the Classic Administrative Templates (ADM) folder in the console tree.

Load the ADMX and ADML templates

  1. Open the downloaded ADMX folder, and then select all of the files and subfolders within it.

  2. Copy the selected files and then paste them into the %systemroot%\PolicyDefinitions folder.

  3. Access the newly updated Administrative Templates in the Group Policy Object Editor in the console tree, under User Configuration - Administrative Templates.

Update the OCT

  • Replace the /Admin folder in your 2007 Office system installation files or installation image with the downloaded Admin folder.

See Also