powerpoint 2008 hyperlink warning

[docdan.m]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

in slide show mode, when i click on hyperlink to another presentation on my computer, a message flashes :' do you want to open a potentially unsafe file....?"

how can i disable this????

D

 

[Jeff Chapman]

Now that you mentioned it, I noticed this too. I looked all over the
preferences and PowerPoint menus, and couldn't find a place to disable the
message. Pretty tacky-looking, if you're doing a presentation for a client
or a group of students, and suddenly this message comes up and says that the
file you're about to open isn't safe. In fact, this message is just plain
bad planning on the part of Microsoft as I see it. This is the
out-of-the-box functionality... I can't see what the benefit is to this,
besides potentially warning people about visiting web sites or pages that
might potentially pose some kind of threat, or opening a file they may know
nothing about. This is really silly if you're the one who's creating the
presentation and making the links, isn't it.

Jeff

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Now that you mentioned it, I noticed this too. I looked all over the
preferences and PowerPoint menus, and couldn't find a place to disable the
message. Pretty tacky-looking, if you're doing a presentation for a client
or a group of students, and suddenly this message comes up and says that the
file you're about to open isn't safe. In fact, this message is just plain
bad planning on the part of Microsoft as I see it. This is the
out-of-the-box functionality... I can't see what the benefit is to this,
besides potentially warning people about visiting web sites or pages that
might potentially pose some kind of threat, or opening a file they may know
nothing about. This is really silly if you're the one who's creating the
presentation and making the links, isn't it.

It is. It's been annoying Windows PPT users for several versions now.
We call it "The End of the World" (or of "Civilization as We Know It", take
your pick) Message.

The Windows version has a registry setting you can change to make it stop
Nannying, and also some other workarounds. You might want to have a look here
to see if anything triggers a Mac-flavored "Aha!":

"Some files can contain viruses ..." message when clicking a hyperlink
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00406.htm

Also, in PPT 2007 there's the notion of Trusted Folders, folders you designate
as containing files that you've deemed trustworthy, safe, ok to launch w/o
screeching from PPT. A kind of "Nanny-free" zone.

Might Mac Office 2008 have something similar?

Jeff

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[Jeff Chapman]

The text for the error message in question appears to be located in the
strman_0005.strings file. On my install of Mac Office 2008, it's located in
the Macintosh HD > Applications > Microsoft Office 2008 > Office >
MicrosoftOffice.framework [package] > Resources > en.lproj folder, key 5c. I
have OmniOutliner installed, which is helpful to view the contents of these
".strings" files. In fact, it's rather educational to go and look through
these .strings files. I assume that these are all of the localized error and
text messages for Office apps.

Bottom line - I haven't tried it yet, but knowing this information, it's
conceivable that you could actually change the text message that appears
when a hyperlink is clicked (on your machine, anyway), so that it says
"Brilliant, boy! You get a cookie!" or something like that. As far as
deactivating the message, however... that's anyone's guess. I wonder what
would happen if we just deleted the key from that .strings file? Would
PowerPoint just give up and fail to display the message? ;-D (Now we're
starting to live dangerously...)

Something to try, anyway...

Jeff

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Bottom line - I haven't tried it yet, but knowing this information, it's
conceivable that you could actually change the text message that appears
when a hyperlink is clicked (on your machine, anyway), so that it says
"Brilliant, boy! You get a cookie!" or something like that. As far as
deactivating the message, however... that's anyone's guess. I wonder what
would happen if we just deleted the key from that .strings file? Would
PowerPoint just give up and fail to display the message? ;-D (Now we're
starting to live dangerously...)

Something to try, anyway...

Backups are your *friends*.
It's good to have many friends. ;-)

Jeff

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[NancyCho[MSFT]]

Hi there,

Yes, this hyperlink warning was installed as part of our security measures for 2008. There is not a way to disable it manually (ie, without going inside the works).

I can log a suggestion bug to put in a preference to disable it...

Thanks,
nancy

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Hi there,

Yes, this hyperlink warning was installed as part of our security measures for 2008.

There is not a way to disable it manually (ie, without going inside the works).

I can log a suggestion bug to put in a preference to disable it...

Please do!

It should've been squashed while it was still only on the Windows side. ;-)

But under Windows PPT, there *is* a way to disable it (registry tweak).

By "going inside the works" do you mean something similar?
If so, care to share? ;-)


================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[Nancy Cho]

Oh, sorry, I meant, without changing code.

I'll put in the suggestion bug.
Thanks!
Nancy

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Oh, sorry, I meant, without changing code.
Awwwww.....

I'll put in the suggestion bug.
Thanks!

And thank you.

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================