Phantom XLM macros?

Perplexed · May 23rd, 2002, 08:29 AM

I have macro virus protection turned on (XL97). When opening some (not all) old workbooks and clicking [Disable macros]I get a second dialog box telling me
"The workbook contains a type of macro (Microsoft Excel version 4.0 macro) that cannot be disabled ... )

This seems absurd: there are no macros listed. Indeed, I have deleted all rows from the offending sheet, cleared all defined names and checked in project explorer that there are only the Sheet1 (blank) and ThisWorkbook modules.
(There are none to unhide)

Is this documented behaviour?

Can XLM macros be hidden that completely or is a flag failing to be cleared?

Jack in the UK · May 23rd, 2002, 12:02 PM

I like this question Macros in Excel 4 are TOTALLY different to VBA in that we use now.

They ran on modules in a sheet (NOT IN VBE) and so were nasty in the wrong hands many virus came this way.

My call is go to format sheet and unhide there will be hidden sheet this is the macro,

Save the sheet as JACK..whatever and close excel

Open Jack whatever and unhide the sheet as explained and save
Close the wkbk Jack …whatever and re open, has it gone????

If so then solved if not .. erm VIRUS CHECK!

The problem will be the sheet wont work as the macros are removed..

Joe Was · May 23rd, 2002, 01:32 PM

If all else fails open a new blank workbook and copy your sheets from the bad(macro'ed) workbook to your clean new one. Close the old workbook and save the new workbook as a new name. If you need the old name for your new workbook?

Save the new workbook with a new name, check the new workbook to see that it works the way it should. Then delete the old workbook and re-name the new workbook to the old workbook's name. Hope this helps. JSW

Perplexed · May 23rd, 2002, 03:02 PM

Thanks,

copying the contents of the sheet to a new sheet then deleting the original indeed works. You end up with a functionally identical workbook that no longer generates the "I have an XLMin me" message.

Trouble is, for one of them that involved over 30min of work with named array formulae etc etc. I have tried unhide etc (both from window and format sheet) and there is nothing there.

Google, MSDN etc all draw a blank but that may be the difficulty of selecting appropriate search terms.

It is as if a flag has been set but not cleared even when the content has gone. The very latest version of Sophos finds no virus ...

Perplexed ...

May 23rd, 2002, 12:02 PM	#2
Jack in the UK Board Regular Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,065	I like this question Macros in Excel 4 are TOTALLY different to VBA in that we use now. They ran on modules in a sheet (NOT IN VBE) and so were nasty in the wrong hands many virus came this way. My call is go to format sheet and unhide there will be hidden sheet this is the macro, Save the sheet as JACK..whatever and close excel Open Jack whatever and unhide the sheet as explained and save Close the wkbk Jack …whatever and re open, has it gone???? If so then solved if not .. erm VIRUS CHECK! The problem will be the sheet wont work as the macros are removed.. __________________ Free Excel based Web Toolbar available here. Jack in the UK J & R Excel Solutions "making Excel work for you"

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May 23rd, 2002, 08:29 AM	#1
Perplexed New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2	I have macro virus protection turned on (XL97). When opening some (not all) old workbooks and clicking [Disable macros]I get a second dialog box telling me "The workbook contains a type of macro (Microsoft Excel version 4.0 macro) that cannot be disabled ... ) This seems absurd: there are no macros listed. Indeed, I have deleted all rows from the offending sheet, cleared all defined names and checked in project explorer that there are only the Sheet1 (blank) and ThisWorkbook modules. (There are none to unhide) Is this documented behaviour? Can XLM macros be hidden that completely or is a flag failing to be cleared?

May 23rd, 2002, 01:32 PM	#3
Joe Was MrExcel MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Central Florida, USA Posts: 7,541	If all else fails open a new blank workbook and copy your sheets from the bad(macro'ed) workbook to your clean new one. Close the old workbook and save the new workbook as a new name. If you need the old name for your new workbook? Save the new workbook with a new name, check the new workbook to see that it works the way it should. Then delete the old workbook and re-name the new workbook to the old workbook's name. Hope this helps. JSW

May 23rd, 2002, 03:02 PM	#4
Perplexed New Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2	Thanks, copying the contents of the sheet to a new sheet then deleting the original indeed works. You end up with a functionally identical workbook that no longer generates the "I have an XLMin me" message. Trouble is, for one of them that involved over 30min of work with named array formulae etc etc. I have tried unhide etc (both from window and format sheet) and there is nothing there. Google, MSDN etc all draw a blank but that may be the difficulty of selecting appropriate search terms. It is as if a flag has been set but not cleared even when the content has gone. The very latest version of Sophos finds no virus ... Perplexed ...