Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of browolf
browolf

asked on

group policy - stop unc paths in word, how?

We have a problem with users typing unc paths in word. we've restricted this in internet explorer but because word converts things to hyperlinks automatically it's a bit of a problem.  I have the office 2000 adm files but i couldnt find anything obvious.

any ideas?
Avatar of Chris Dent
Chris Dent
Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland image


Disabling the Run command stops the user typing UNC paths into Explorer (which word will use for things like Save As... operations).

Did you remove access to the Run command?
Avatar of browolf
browolf

ASKER

yes.
I'm not talking about unc paths in open/save dialogues.  This is about typing unc paths straight into the document.

Are the hyperlinks needed? There's an autoformatting option that will disable changing them into Hyperlinks in the first place.

If you do need them in the document, is it coming up with the same policy error as typing a UNC into explorer gives?
Avatar of browolf

ASKER

i think it's that autoformating disabled i need.

Okay... well there's the local option (Format / Autoformat / Options / Internet and Network Paths with Hyperlinks)... Haven't managed to find a way to set it another way yet... still looking.
Avatar of browolf

ASKER

Yes. I've been told there is a way of doing it through group policy but i havent managed to find it.

Yeah.... had a look there and couldn't find it either. If you happen to know the Registry Key for it and it's in HKLM or HKCU then it can be added to Group Policy very quickly.

Getting there a bit...

Word XP has these settings available in policy. It sets a Registry Value with this:

POLICY "Internet and network paths with hyperlinks"
    PART "Check to enforce setting on; uncheck to enforce setting off" CHECKBOX
        VALUENAME fHyperlink_200_1
        VALUEON NUMERIC 1
        VALUEOFF NUMERIC 0
    END PART
END POLICY

Which gives you a nice policy to do it for Word XP... For some reason this isn't included in the Word 2003 ADM. The value names all seem to be pretty much the same though, so I thought I'd have a little experiment with adding a little ADM in to give this option...

So far we have:


CLASS USER

CATEGORY "Microsoft Office Word 2003"
      CATEGORY "Tools | AutoCorrect..."
            CATEGORY "AutoFormat as you type"
                  CATEGORY "Replace as you type"

                        KEYNAME Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Options\Assist

                        POLICY "Internet and network paths with hyperlinks"
                        PART "Check to enforce setting on; uncheck to enforce setting off" CHECKBOX
                              VALUENAME fHyperlink_200_1
                              VALUEON NUMERIC 1
                              VALUEOFF NUMERIC 0
                        END PART
                        END POLICY
                  END CATEGORY
            END CATEGORY
      END CATEGORY
END CATEGORY

vpref was changed to Assist for Office 2003. This isn't working at the moment, but if you can see anything obvious for why...
Avatar of browolf

ASKER

um. i realise i should have said word 2000.

Oh hehe you probably did... I should pay more attention ;)

It's definately in the Word 2000 Version, you can find it (in Group Policy) under:

User Configuration
Administrative Templates
Microsoft Word 2000
Tools | AutoCorrect
AutoFormat as you type

Internet and network paths  with Hyperlinks

Provided that you have the Word9 ADM File.

Yell if it isn't there ;)

Now I'm going back to finding out why 2003 doesn't have the same option 'cos I want to disable it ;)

Just one quick note on those policies...

Why they work (after word has restarted) it won't change the tick boxes in the Auto Format options, it just stops it working.

in the above... Why = While
Avatar of browolf

ASKER


found it. the readability of a long list of options isnt that great. I was about to tell you I couldnt find it.

disabled is how we want it  yes.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Chris Dent
Chris Dent
Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Avatar of browolf

ASKER

thanks for your help.

Pleasure, glad it got sorted out in a round-about kind of way ;)
Avatar of browolf

ASKER

we've discovered this doesnt actually solve the problem as you can just right click on the text and there a hyperlink option which does the same thing. doh!
that policy option just stops autoconversion.