Group Policy and Office Customization Tool settings in Office 2013 for OpenDocument and Office Open XML formats

Article
12/26/2016

Applies to: Office 2013, Office 365 ProPlus

Summary: Describes Group Policy settings and Office Customization Tool (OCT) settings that address OpenDocument Format and Open XML Formats in Office 2013.

Audience: IT Professionals

To configure OpenDocument Format and Open XML Formats in Office 2013, you can use the Group Policy and Office Customization Tool (OCT) settings that are described in this article. These settings apply to Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013, and Word 2013.

Important

This article is part of the Content roadmap for Office 2013 compatibility. Use the roadmap as a starting point for articles, downloads, scripts, and videos that help you assess Office 2013 compatibility.

In this article:

About the settings
Excel 2013 settings
PowerPoint 2013 settings
Word 2013 settings

About the settings

Before you can use the settings that are discussed in this article, you must install the Office 2013 Administrative Template files (ADMX/ADML) and Office Customization Tool download package, which contains new and updated Group Policy administrative template files and OCT files.

For each setting, the following information is provided:

The application to which the setting applies
The setting name
What the setting does
The default configuration for the setting
Where to find the setting in the Group Policy Management Console
- Unless otherwise noted, you'll find Group Policy settings under the User Configuration/Administrative Templates node of the Group Policy Management Console when you edit a local or domain-based Group Policy object (GPO).
Where to find the setting in the Office Customization Tool (OCT)
- Unless otherwise noted, you'll find OCT settings on the Modify user settings page of the OCT when you configure a setup customization file.

> [!NOTE]
> If the geographic location of the computer on which you are running the OCT is set to a European location, when you create a Setup customization .msp file, or open an existing customization .msp file for which file format settings are not configured for Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013, or Word 2013, you might be prompted to choose a default file format for users. You can choose to keep the current settings for the Setup customization file, or choose either Office Open XML Formats (which support all the features of Office 2013), or OpenDocument formats. For more information about these file formats, click <STRONG>Learn more</STRONG> to access OCT help.<BR>The OCT was updated in September 2013 to include Croatia as a geographic location that supports the display of the File format dialog box. If you plan to deploy Office in Croatia, be sure to <A href="https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=257051">download the most current version of the OCT</A>.

Excel 2013 settings

The following table lists the Group Policy settings and the OCT settings that address OpenDocument Format and Open XML Formats for Excel 2013.

Group Policy and OCT settings for Excel

Setting name	What it does	Default configuration	Group Policy Management Console location	OCT location
Default file format	Specifies the default file format for new files that users create in Excel. This includes the OpenDocument spreadsheet (.ods) file format.	Files are created in the Excel file format. Users may override this default setting and specify another file format.	Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Save	Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Save
Suppress file format compatibility dialog box for OpenDocument Spreadsheet format	Allows you to enable use of the file format compatibility warning, or to disable it from appearing when users save a file as an OpenDocument spreadsheet (*.ods) file in Excel.	The file format compatibility warning appears when users save as an OpenDocument Spreadsheet file in Excel.	Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Save	Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Save
OpenDocument Spreadsheet files	Determines whether users can open, view, edit, or save Excel files in OpenDocument Spreadsheet (*.ods) file format.	Users can open, view, edit, or save Excel files in *.ods file format.	Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings	Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings
Microsoft Office Open XML converters for Excel	Determines whether users can open, view, edit, or save Excel files in Open XML file format.	Users can open, view, edit, or save Excel files in Open XML file format.	Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings	Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings
Scan encrypted macros in Excel Open XML workbooks	Controls whether encrypted macros in Open XML documents are required to be scanned by using antivirus software before they are opened. Note The behavior depends on whether the antivirus software uses the Microsoft Antivirus API.	Encrypted macros are disabled unless antivirus software is installed. Encrypted macros are scanned by your antivirus software when you attempt to open an encrypted workbook that contains macros. Note If the antivirus software does not use the Microsoft Antivirus API, macros will always be blocked.	Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Security	Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Security
Protect document metadata for rights managed Office Open XML Files	Determines whether metadata is encrypted in Office Open XML files that are protected by Information Rights Management (IRM).	When Information Rights Management (IRM) is used to restrict access to an Office Open XML document, any metadata that is associated with the document is not encrypted.	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings
Protect document metadata for password protected files	Determines whether metadata is encrypted when an Office Open XML file is password protected.	When an Open XML document is protected with a password and saved, any metadata that is associated with the document is encrypted together with the rest of the document's contents. If this configuration is changed, potentially sensitive information such as the document author and hyperlink references could be exposed to unauthorized people.	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings
Encryption type for password protected Office Open XML files	Allows you to specify an encryption type for Office Open XML files.	The default cryptographic service provider (CSP) is used. On computers that run Windows Vista, the default CSP is Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider, AES-128, 128-bit. On computers that run Windows XP, the default CSP is Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider (Prototype), AES-128, 128-bit. Note: This policy setting will not take effect unless the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\<Office application name>\Security\Crypto\CompatMode is set to 0. By default, the CompatMode registry key is set to 1.	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings
Block opening of pre-release versions of file formats new to Excel 2013 through the Compatibility Pack for Office 2013 and Excel 2013 Converter	Controls whether users who have the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2013 File Formats installed can open Office Open XML files that were saved with pre-release versions of Excel 2013. Excel Open XML files usually have the following extensions: .xlsx, .xlsm, .xltx, .xltm, .xlam.	Users of the compatibility pack will be unable to open Office Open XML files that were created in pre-release versions of Excel 2013.	Microsoft Office 2013\Office 2013 Converters	Microsoft Office 2013\Office 2013 Converters
Disable Package Repair	Allows you to disable the option to repair Open XML documents.	When an Office 2013 application detects that an Open XML document is corrupted, the user is given the option of repairing the corrupted document.	This setting cannot be configured by using Group Policy.	Microsoft Office 2013 (Machine)\Security Settings

PowerPoint 2013 settings

The following table lists the Group Policy settings and the OCT settings that address OpenDocument Format and Open XML Formats for PowerPoint 2013.

Group Policy and OCT settings for PowerPoint

Setting name	What it does	Default configuration	Group Policy Management Console location	OCT location
Suppress file format compatibility dialog box for OpenDocument Presentation format	Allows you to enable use of the file format compatibility warning message or to disable it when you save a file as an OpenDocument presentation file in PowerPoint.	The file format compatibility warning does not appear when you save as an OpenDocument presentation file in PowerPoint.	Microsoft PowerPoint 2013\PowerPoint Options\Save	Microsoft PowerPoint 2013\PowerPoint Options\Save
OpenDocument Presentation files	Allows you to determine whether users can open, view, edit, or save PowerPoint files with the OpenDocument presentation (*.odp) file format.	OpenDocument presentation files are not blocked.	Microsoft PowerPoint 2013\PowerPoint Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings	Microsoft PowerPoint 2013\PowerPoint Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings
Microsoft Office Open XML converters for PowerPoint	Allows you to determine whether users can open, view, edit, or save PowerPoint files using Open XML file format converters.	PowerPoint files using Open XML file format converters are not blocked.	Microsoft PowerPoint 2013\PowerPoint Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings	Microsoft PowerPoint 2013\PowerPoint Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings
Scan encrypted macros in PowerPoint Open XML presentations	Controls whether encrypted macros in Open XML presentations are required to be scanned by using antivirus software before they are opened.	Encrypted macros are disabled unless antivirus software is installed. If antivirus software is installed, encrypted macros are scanned by users’ antivirus software when they attempt to open an encrypted presentation that contains macros. If no vulnerabilities are detected, the macros can run. Note If the antivirus software does not use the Microsoft Antivirus API, macros will always be blocked.	Microsoft PowerPoint 2013\PowerPoint Options\Security	Microsoft PowerPoint 2013\PowerPoint Options\Security
Turn on an external converter as the default for a file name extension	Allows you to enable an external file format converter as the default for a particular file name extension on a computer. To set this policy, you must specify the file name extension (for example, ''odp'') for Value Name and the external file format converter via the converter's classname (for example, ''TestConverter'') for Value.	Microsoft PowerPoint processes files in an application-defined manner.	This setting cannot be configured by using Group Policy.	Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 (Machine)\Converters
Protect document metadata for rights managed Office Open XML Files	Determines whether metadata is encrypted in Office Open XML files that are protected by Information Rights Management (IRM).	When Information Rights Management (IRM) is used to restrict access to an Office Open XML document, any metadata that is associated with the document is not encrypted.	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings
Protect document metadata for password protected files	Determines whether metadata is encrypted when an Office Open XML file is password protected.	When an Open XML document is protected with a password and saved, any metadata that is associated with the document is encrypted together with the rest of the document's contents. If this configuration is changed, potentially sensitive information such as the document author and hyperlink references could be exposed to unauthorized people.	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings
Encryption type for password protected Office Open XML files	Allows you to specify an encryption type for Office Open XML files.	The default cryptographic service provider (CSP) is used. On computers that run Windows Vista, the default CSP is Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider, AES-128, 128-bit. On computers that run Windows XP, the default CSP is Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider (Prototype), AES-128, 128-bit. Note: This policy setting will not take effect unless the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\<Office application name>\Security\Crypto\CompatMode is set to 0. By default, the CompatMode registry key is set to 1.	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings
Block opening of pre-release versions of file formats new to PowerPoint 2013 through the Compatibility Pack for Office 2013 and PowerPoint 2013 Converter	Controls whether users who have the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2013 File Formats installed can open Office Open XML files that were saved with pre-release versions of PowerPoint 2013. PowerPoint Open XML files usually have the following extensions: .pptx, .pptm, .potx, .potm, .ppsx, .ppsm, .ppam, .thmx, .xml.	Users of the compatibility pack will be unable to open Office Open XML files that were created in pre-release versions of PowerPoint 2013.	Microsoft Office 2013\Office 2013 Converters	Microsoft Office 2013\Office 2013 Converters
Disable Package Repair	Allows you to disable the option to repair Open XML documents.	When an Office 2013 application detects that an Open XML document is corrupted, the user is given the option of repairing the corrupted document.	This setting cannot be configured by using Group Policy.	Microsoft Office 2013 (Machine)\Security Settings

Word 2013 settings

The following table lists the Group Policy settings and the OCT settings that address OpenDocument Format and Open XML Formats for Word 2013.

Group Policy and OCT settings for Word

Setting name	What it does	Default configuration	Group Policy Management Console location	OCT location
Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode	Allows you to hide the ''Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word'' check box that appears in the Save As dialog when users save a file as an Open XML file format. This check box lets users preserve the fidelity of documents that open in compatibility mode when they save those documents to any of the Open XML file formats. Checking this box will prevent conversion to the version of Word that is saving the file. Conversion maximizes fidelity with the version of Word that is saving the file. We recommend it for users who want their Word documents to be compatible with this version of Word. However, conversion might affect the fidelity and compatibility of some features when the file is opened by an earlier version of Word.	The ''Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word'' check box appears in the Save As dialog when users save a file in an Open XML file format.	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Save	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Save
Do not display file format compatibility dialog box for OpenDocument text format	Allows you to enable the file format compatibility warning that appears when users save a file as an OpenDocument text file in Word or to disable it.	The file format compatibility warning appears when users save as an OpenDocument text file in Word.	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Save	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Save
Set default compatibility mode on file creation	Allows you to specify the default compatibility mode for users when they create new files in Word 2013: Word 2003, Word 2007,Word 2010, or full functionality mode (this mode makes sure that all new features remain enabled). Note: Open XML file formats such as .docx and .dotx, support all four modes.	Full functionality mode is the default compatibility mode for users when they create new files in Word 2013.	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Save	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Save
Default file format	Allows you to determine the default file format for saving files in Word. This includes the OpenDocument text (.odt), and Open XML file formats. This policy setting is often set in combination with the ''Save As Open XML in Compatibility Mode'' policy setting.	Word saves new files in the Office Open XML format (*.docx).	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Save	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Save
OpenDocument Text files	Allows you to determine whether users can open, view, edit, or save Word files that use the OpenDocument text (*.odt) file format.	Users can open, view, edit, or save *.odt files in Word 2010.	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings
Office Open XML converters for Word	Allows you to determine whether users can open, view, edit, or save Word files that use Open XML file format converters.	Word files that use Open XML file format converters are not blocked.	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings
Scan encrypted macros in Word Open XML documents	Controls whether encrypted macros in Open XML Word documents are required to be scanned by using antivirus software before they are opened.	Encrypted macros are disabled unless antivirus software is installed. If antivirus software is installed, encrypted macros are scanned by users’ antivirus software when they attempt to open an encrypted document that contains macros. If no vulnerabilities are detected, the macros can run. Note If the antivirus software does not use the Microsoft Antivirus API, macros will always be blocked.	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Security\Trust Center	Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Security\Trust Center
Protect document metadata for rights managed Office Open XML Files	Determines whether metadata is encrypted in Office Open XML files that are protected by Information Rights Management (IRM).	When Information Rights Management (IRM) is used to restrict access to an Office Open XML document, any metadata that is associated with the document is not encrypted.	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings
Protect document metadata for password protected files	Determines whether metadata is encrypted when an Office Open XML file is password protected.	When an Open XML document is protected with a password and saved, any metadata that is associated with the document is encrypted together with the rest of the document's contents. If this configuration is changed, potentially sensitive information such as the document author and hyperlink references could be exposed to unauthorized people.	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings
Encryption type for password protected Office Open XML files	Allows you to specify an encryption type for Office Open XML files.	The default cryptographic service provider (CSP) is used. On computers that run Windows Vista, the default CSP is Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider, AES-128, 128-bit. On computers that run Windows XP, the default CSP is Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider (Prototype), AES-128, 128-bit. Note: This policy setting will not take effect unless the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\<Office application name>\Security\Crypto\CompatMode is set to 0. By default, the CompatMode registry key is set to 1.	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings	Microsoft Office 2013\Security Settings
Disable Package Repair	Allows you to disable the option to repair Open XML documents.	When an Office 2013 application detects that an Open XML document is corrupted, the user is given the option of repairing the corrupted document.	This setting cannot be configured by using Group Policy.	Microsoft Office 2013 (Machine)\Security Settings

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