Plan file block settings for Office 2013

 

Applies to: Office 365 ProPlus, Office client

Summary: Provides information about the settings to block specific file format types for Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013, and Word 2013 users.

Audience: IT Professionals

You can block specific types of files from being opened or saved in Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013, and Word 2013 by configuring settings in either Group Policy or the Office Customization Tool (OCT).

File block settings are most frequently used to:

  • Force an organization to use specific file formats.

  • Mitigate zero-day security attacks by temporarily preventing users from opening specific types of files. Zero-day security attacks are attacks that occur between the time that vulnerability becomes publicly known and a software update or service pack becomes available.

  • Prevent an organization from opening files that were saved in earlier and pre-release Office formats.

Roadmap arrow for guide to Office security.

This article is part of the Guide to Office 2013 security. Use the roadmap as a starting point for articles, downloads, posters, and videos that help you assess Office 2013 security.

Are you looking for security information about individual Office 2013 applications? You can find this information by searching for “2013 security” on Office.com.

In this article:

  • Planning considerations for configuring file block settings

  • Group Policy and OCT settings

Planning considerations for configuring file block settings

Here are some things to think about as you plan your file block settings:

  • Decide whether you want users to be able to change your configurations.

    • If you do not want users to be able to change your configurations, use Group Policy to configure file block settings policies.

    • If you do want users to be able to change your configurations, use the OCT to set file block settings preferences. If you use the OCT to set file block settings, users can change these settings by using the Trust Center. The Trust Center is available to them from the File tab in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. From the File tab, they choose Options, then Trust Center. From the Trust Center, they choose Trust Center Settings and then File Block Settings.

  • Block open settings do not apply to files that are opened from trusted locations.

  • Block file format settings are application specific. You can’t prevent users from using other applications to open or save file types or formats that are blocked. For example, you can enable block file format settings that prevent users from opening .dot files in Word 2013, but users will still be able to open .dot files by using Publisher 2013 because Publisher 2013 uses a converter to read the .dot file.

  • If Message Bar notifications are disabled, the block file format warning dialog box will still appear if the user tries to open a blocked file type. Examples of file types that you can block from opening are Word 2007 or later documents or templates, or PowerPoint outline files, among many other files types.

Group Policy and OCT settings

This section describes how to find the settings in Group Policy and the OCT, and lists the settings for Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013, and Word 2013.

How to find the settings

  • Group Policy settings are available under the User Configuration/Administrative Templates node of the Local Group Policy Editor.

    Note

    The locations in the Group Policy Editor that are presented in this article apply when you open the Group Policy Editor to edit a GPO. To edit local Group Policy, use the Local Group Policy Editor. To edit domain-based Group Policy, use the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). Either tool opens the Group Policy Editor when you edit a GPO. For more information, see Overview of Group Policy for Office 2013.

  • OCT policy settings are available on the OCT Modify user settings page.

In both Group Policy and the OCT, the specific path of the folder that contains the file block settings for Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013, and Word 2013 is the same, except for the application name:

  • Excel 2013 file block settings:

    Microsoft Excel 2013\Excel Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings

  • PowerPoint 2013 file block settings:

    Microsoft PowerPoint 2013\PowerPoint Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings

  • Word 2013 file block settings:

    Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Security\Trust Center\File Block Settings

Note

By default, users can set default file block settings in the Trust Center for Excel 2013, PowerPoint 2013, and Word 2013. In Word 2013, for example, on the File tab, users can choose Options, Trust Center, Trust Center Settings, and then choose File Block Settings.
You can disable the file block options in Trust Center options by configuring the settings through Group Policy. If you configure the settings through the OCT, users can change file type behavior through the Trust Center. For more information, see What is File Block?

About the Set default file block behavior setting

The Set default file block behavior setting specifies any of the following:

  • How blocked files open

  • How they don’t open

  • How they open in protected view but can’t be edited

  • How they open in protected view and can be edited

If you enable this setting, the default file block behavior that you specify applies to any file format that users block by using the Trust Center. The Set default file block setting can also apply to a specific file format if you enable that file format setting and select the Open/Save blocked, use open policy option. For more information about individual file format settings, see the tables in this article. Otherwise, if you configure a single file format setting, that setting overrides the Set default file block behavior setting configuration for that file type.

Note

The options under Open behavior for selected types in the Trust Center, under File Block Settings, correspond directly to the options in the Set default file block behavior setting. You can disable these UI options for users by enabling the Set default file block behavior setting in Group Policy.

Excel 2013 Group Policy and OCT settings

The following table lists the file block settings in Group Policy and the OCT that you can configure for Excel 2013 users. With the exception of the Set default file block behavior setting, file setting names correspond to the file types that they can block.

Excel 2013 settings

Setting name File extension If you enable this setting, you can select one of the following options: If you disable or do not configure this setting

Set default file block behavior

Users can set blocked file formats in the Trust Center.

See the section About the Set default file block behavior setting for details.

Do not open selected file types.

Open selected types in Protected View.

Open selected types in Protected View and allow editing.

Blocked files aren’t opened (users can’t open blocked files).

Excel 2007, Excel 2010, and Excel 2013 versions of workbooks and templates

*.xlsx

*.xltx

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Users can’t save this file type.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 2007, Excel 2010, and Excel 2013 versions of macro-enabled workbooks and templates

*.xlsm

*.xltm

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 2007, Excel 2010, and Excel 2013 versions of add-in files

*.xlam

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 2007, Excel 2010, and Excel 2013 versions of binary workbooks

*.xlsb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

OpenDocument Spreadsheet files

*.ods

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 97–2003 add-in files

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 97–2003 workbooks and templates

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 95–97 workbooks and templates

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 95 workbooks

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 4 workbooks

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 4 worksheets

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 3 worksheets

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 2 worksheets

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 4 macrosheets and add-in files

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 3 macrosheets and add-in files

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel 2 macrosheets and add-in files

*.xls

*.xla

*.xlt

*.xlm

*.xlw

*.xlb

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Web pages and Excel 2003 XML spreadsheets

*.mht

*.mhtml

*.htm

*.html

*.xml

*.xlmss

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

XML files

*.xml

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Text files

*.txt

*.csv

*.prn

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Excel add-in files

*.xll (.dll)

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

dBase III / IV files

*.dbf

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Microsoft Office query files

*.iqy

*.dqy

*.oqy

*.rqy

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Microsoft Office data connection files

*.odc

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Other data source files

*.udl

*.dsn

*.mdb

*.mde

*.accdb

*.accde

*.dbc

*.uxdc

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Offline cube files

*.cub

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Dif and Sylk files

*.dif

*.slk

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Legacy converters for Excel

All file formats that are opened through a converter

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Microsoft Office Open XML converters for Excel

All file formats that are opened through an OOXML converter

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

PowerPoint 2013 Group Policy and OCT settings

The following table lists the file block settings in Group Policy and the OCT that you can configure for PowerPoint 2013 users. With the exception of the Set default file block behavior setting, file setting names correspond to the file types that they can block.

PowerPoint 2013 settings

Setting name File format extension If you enable this setting, you can select one of the following options If you disable or do not configure this setting

Set default file block behavior

Users can set blocked file formats in the Trust Center.

See the section About the Set default file block behavior setting for details.

Do not open selected file types.

Open selected types in Protected View.

Open selected types in Protected View and allow editing.

Blocked files aren’t opened (users can’t open blocked files).

PowerPoint 2007, PowerPoint 2010, and PowerPoint 2013 versions of presentations, shows, templates, themes, and add-ins

*.pptx

*.pptm

*.potx

*.ppsx

*.ppam

*.thmx

*.xml

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

OpenDocument Presentation files

*.odp

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

PowerPoint 97–2003 presentations, shows, templates and add-in files

*.ppt

*.pot

*.pps

*.ppa

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Web pages

*.mht

*.mhtml

*.htm

*.html

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Outline files

*.rtf

*.txt

*.doc

*.wpd

*.docx

*.docm

*.wps

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Legacy converters for PowerPoint

Presentation files older than PowerPoint 97

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Graphic Filters

*.jpg

*.png

*.tif

*.bmp

*.wmf

*.emf

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Microsoft Office Open XML converters for PowerPoint

All file formats that are opened through an OOXML converter

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Word 2013 Group Policy and OCT settings

The following table lists the file block settings in Group Policy and the OCT that you can configure for Word 2013 users. With the exception of the Set default file block behavior setting, file setting names correspond to the file types that they can block.

Word 2013 settings

Setting name File format extension If you enable this setting, you can select one of the following options If you disable or do not configure this setting

Set default file block behavior

Users can set blocked file formats in the Trust Center.

See the section About the Set default file block behavior setting for details.

Do not open selected file types.

Open selected types in Protected View.

Open selected types in Protected View and allow editing.

Blocked files aren’t opened (users can’t open blocked files).

Word 2007, Word 2010, and Word 2013 versions of documents and templates

*.docx

*.dotx

*.docm

*.dotm

*.xml (Word Flat Open XML)

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

OpenDocument text files

*.odt

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Word 2007, Word 2010, and Word 2013 versions of binary documents and templates

*.doc

*.dot

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Word 2003 binary documents and templates

*.doc

*.dot

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Word 2003 and plain XML documents

*.xml

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Word 2002 binary documents and templates

*.doc

*.dot

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Word 200 binary documents and templates

*.doc

*.dot

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Word 97 binary documents and templates

*.doc

*.dot

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Word 95 binary documents and templates

*.doc

*.dot

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Word 6.0 binary documents and templates

*.doc

*.dot

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Word 2.0 and earlier binary documents and templates

*.doc

*.dot

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Web pages

*.htm

*.html

*.mht

*.mhtml

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

RTF files

*.rtf

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Plain text files

*.txt

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Legacy converters for Word

All file formats that are opened through a converter

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

Office Open XML converters for Word

All file formats that are opened through an OOXML converter

Do not block: The file type isn’t blocked.

Save blocked: Saving of the file type is blocked.

Open/Save blocked, use open policy: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked. The file opens based on the configuration of the Set default file block behavior setting.

Block: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the file doesn’t open.

Open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit the file type is disabled.

Allow editing and open in Protected View: Both opening and saving of the file type is blocked, and the option to edit is enabled.

File format type isn’t blocked.

See also

Guide to Office 2013 security
Understand security threats and countermeasures for Office 2013
Plan privacy options for Office 2013
Plan Office File Validation settings for Office 2013
Plan Protected View settings for Office 2013
Overview of Group Policy for Office 2013
Office Customization Tool (OCT) reference for Office 2013