A file is blocked when you open or save the file in a Microsoft Office program. In this situation, you may receive an error message that resembles one of the following:
-
You are attempting to open a file that is blocked by your registry policy setting.
-
You are attempting to open a file type <File Type> that has been blocked by your File Block settings in the Trust Center.
-
You are attempting to open a file that was created in an earlier version of Microsoft Office. This file type is blocked from opening in this version by your registry policy setting.
-
You are attempting to save a file that is blocked by your registry policy setting.
-
You are attempting to save a file type <File Type> that has been blocked by your File Block settings in the Trust Center.
Resolution
To resolve this issue, try the following general resolutions to change the File Block settings based on the version of Office that you installed:
For Office 2013 or Office 2010
Change the File Block settings to disable the restriction of certain file types:
- Click File > Options.
If you cannot open a file in Office 2013 or Office 2010, open a blank document to start the Office application. For example, if you cannot open a Word file, open a new document in Word 2013 or Word 2010 to see the option. - In the Options window, click Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.
- In the Trust Center window, click File Block Settings, and then clear the "Open" or "Save" check box for the file type that you want to open or save.
Note Clear the option means allow user to open or save the file. Check the option means block the file. - Click OK two times.
- Try to open or save the file that was blocked again.
For Office 2007 or Office 2003
There is no "Trust Center" in Office 2007 or Office 2003. Therefore, you have to change the value of the FileOpenBlock registry subkey to disable the restriction of certain file types.
Important Follow the steps in this section carefully. Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.
- Exit Office.
- Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
- Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
For Office 2007:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\<Application_name>\Security\FileOpenBlock
For Office 2003:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\11.0\<Application_name>\Security\FileOpenBlock
Note - After you select the subkey that is specified in step 3, locate the following DWORD value: BinaryFiles, FilesBeforeVersion and Converters.
Note If this value does not exist, you must create it. To do this, follow these steps:- Right-click FileOpenBlock , select New, click DWORD Value, and then type BinaryFiles as the name of the DWORD Value.
- Right-click FileOpenBlock , select to New, click DWORD Value, and then type FilesBeforeVersion as the name.
- Right-click FileOpenBlock , select to New, click DWORD Value, and then type Converters as the name.
For more information about these DWORD value, check the FileBlockOpen DWORD values list.
- Right-click the BinaryFiles DWORD value, and then click Modify. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
- Set the Value data of the FilesBeforeVersion and Converters to 0. The following screenshot is a sample of Word 2007.
Note Value data 0 means allow user to open the file. 1 means block the file. - On the File menu, click Exit to exit Registry Editor.
- Try to open or save the file that was blocked again.
Next step if you still cannot open or save the files in Office 2007 or Office 2003
If you still cannot open or save the files, try the following steps:
- Determinate the type of the file that cannot be opened: Right-click the file and select Properties. Check the Type of file property.
- Check the FileBlockOpen DWORD values list, and find the corresponding DWORD value.
- Add the DWORD value into the FileOpenBlock subkey, and set the value data to 0.
See Also: