Office.Interop generates hidden Internet calls

[ppmsdn]

Hi

I have noticed that including the Microsoft Word 11.0 Object Library in a
Visual Studio 2005 project (using Visual Basic .NET) generates hidden
Internet communication from the compiled exe-program, if an Internet
connection is accessible.

It is very easy to verify this behavour (Using Windows XP Pro SP2, Office
2003 and Visual Studio 2005):

Open Project, Add Reference, Choose the COM tabpage, double click on
Microsoft Word 11.0 Object Library (version 8.3)

This will add 3 references to the project, which are shown in Project
Properties, References:
Microsoft Office 11.0 Object Library (version
2.3.0.0)
Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Extensibility 5.3 (version
5.3.0.0)
Microsoft Word 11.0 Object Library (version
8.3.0.0)

This is the only code written by me:
Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop
Public Class Form1
Dim wdApp As New Word.Application
End Class

When I compile and execute the program, the firewall Zonealarm informs me
(if the Internet connection is up and running), that the program is trying to
connect to the Internet to a DNS. If the program can't get a response, it
will wait for approximately 15 seconds before it continues to run the code
and present Form1 on the screen. If the network cable is disconnected, no
delay can be observed.

I would like to know:
1. What kind of data are transmitted?
2. How can this communication be turned off?

 

[Cindy M.]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?cHBtc2Ru?=,

It's the Word application that does this, if certain options are activated. I
forget exactly which ones (there are all sorts of things, such as Research
Services, on-line Help, Feedback), and only one or two kick in when the app
starts up. You should try asking in the office.setup newsgroup; one of the
specialists there probably knows this by heart

This is the only code written by me:
Imports Microsoft.Office.Interop
Public Class Form1
Dim wdApp As New Word.Application
End Class

When I compile and execute the program, the firewall Zonealarm informs me
(if the Internet connection is up and running), that the program is trying to
connect to the Internet to a DNS. If the program can't get a response, it
will wait for approximately 15 seconds before it continues to run the code
and present Form1 on the screen. If the network cable is disconnected, no
delay can be observed.

I would like to know:
1. What kind of data are transmitted?
2. How can this communication be turned off?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 17 2005)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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