> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.zeedrive.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.zeedrive.com/microsoft-office.md).

# Microsoft Office

If you experience Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) opening documents read only, opening documents slowly, failing to open documents or failing to save documents, review the sections below for the most likely causes of the problems.

## Disable Always Create Backup In Excel

Ensure that *always create backup* is disabled on the Excel save as dialog. Go to the file menu and choose *save as*. Click *Browse* so the *save as* dialog box appears. Click the tools menu bottom right. Click the general options item. Then ensure *always create backup* is disabled:

<figure><img src="https://4182749601-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FBkDVFDwNmEHlZv1KwwiY%2Fuploads%2FMgNZtX3MN8ktIwSu9KhM%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=9c37cf56-976e-4589-9c48-8125819b55a2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Resave XLS 95 As Newer Format

If the document you are saving is an old XLS 95 format document then resave the document as XLS 97 format or the modern XSLX format. XLS format files can cause issues with co-authoring.

## Disable the Excel Solver Plugin

A plugin called “Solver” by Microsoft can cause Excel documents to open read only. Turn off the plugin. More information here on the Solver plugin can be found here:

<https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/define-and-solve-a-problem-by-using-solver-5d1a388f-079d-43ac-a7eb-f63e45925040>

## Disable Always Create Backup Copy In Word

If the Word setting *Always create backup copy* is enabled and Word is [opened for exclusive editing](https://www.thinkscape.com/Map-Network-Drives-To-Office-365-OneDrive/#OfficeDocumentLocking), then you may experience issues when saving. To resolve, disable the setting. From Word, click File then Options. The select the Advanced tab on the popup dialog. Scroll down to the Save section and disable the *Always create backup copy setting*:

<figure><img src="https://4182749601-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FBkDVFDwNmEHlZv1KwwiY%2Fuploads%2FfnLRbSzKoTujyY4Z2l9u%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=9df90143-2a6b-4c53-af1e-e1073181a750" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## The UNC Server Name Is Conflicting Or Has Non-Alphanumeric Characters

If the UNC server name you have assigned to the network drive contains spaces, other non-alphanumeric characters, or conflicts with another server on the local network, it may cause issues, particularly for Excel.

Check sections [Slow Performance](/slow-performance.md#the-unc-server-name-contains-a-space-character) and [Slow Performance](/slow-performance.md#unc-server-name-conflict-on-the-network) on how to resolve.

Spaces in the server name may cause issues for hyperlinks in work sheets within an Excel document.

## File Path Exceeds 260 Characters

If the path to the document or folder to be opened in Office exceeds the 260 Windows path character limit then the document may not be opened or the containing folder may not be accessible to Office. E.g. If opening an Outlook MSG file that has a path longer than 260 characters, Outlook will show an error.

Whilst Zee Drive and SharePoint Online support URL path lengths [up to 400 characters](/faq/whats-the-maximum-path-length.md), Windows, and Office, have their own idiosyncratic path length limitations.

## Disable File Explorer Preview Pane

If documents open locked or read only, try disabling the Windows File Explorer preview pane as this has been reported to cause this problem.

## Access Denied Opening A ZeeDrive: Link Or Office Document From Outlook

When using the Zee Drive [send link](https://www.thinkscape.com/Map-Network-Drives-To-Office-365-OneDrive/#SendLink) feature and the recipient of the link subsequently clicking the link in an email in Outlook, or, when your Zee Drive subscription has [open for co-authoring by default enabled](https://www.thinkscape.com/Map-Network-Drives-To-Office-365-OneDrive/#CoAuthorDefault) and a user opens an Office document attachment, the link, or document, may fail to open with an error from Outlook: *Access denied*. You may also receive the error from other Office apps E.g. when clicking a Zee Drive link in OneNote or Word.

This can be caused by Windows Defender ASR (Attack Surface Reduction) policies blocking child processes from launching which effectively stops the `ZeeDrive.exe` process from launching to open the hyperlink or Office document. These are the specific ASR policies:

* [Block Office communication application from creating child processes](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/attack-surface-reduction-rules-reference?view=o365-worldwide#block-office-communication-application-from-creating-child-processes) (rule GUID 26190899-1602-49e8-8b27-eb1d0a1ce869)
* [Block all Office applications from creating child processes](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/attack-surface-reduction-rules-reference?view=o365-worldwide#block-all-office-applications-from-creating-child-processes) (rule GUID d4f940ab-401b-4efc-aadc-ad5f3c50688a)

To resolve, add exceptions for the two ASR rules to Windows Defender for the `ZeeDrive.exe` process. You can add an exception To Windows Defender via [Intune](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/attack-surface-reduction-rules-deployment-test#configure-attack-surface-reduction-per-rule-exclusions) or via [Group Policy](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/attack-surface-reduction-rules-deployment-test#via-group-policy).

<figure><img src="https://4182749601-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FBkDVFDwNmEHlZv1KwwiY%2Fuploads%2F71x5KW4IrywWpAKK21oi%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=8d9e5475-0b66-4648-92b5-5afe7a1bf148" alt=""><figcaption><p>Example of Intune exclusion policies for Zee Drive processes using a wildcard</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
The wild card syntax \* is only supported when specifying the ASR rules globally otherwise you will need to enter the path to a specific ZeeDrive.exe version
{% endhint %}

## Duplicate Files Created With Computer Name Appended

If users are experiencing duplicate Office files appearing in their folders, with the name of the computer appended to the file name, then the most likely cause is that the user is running the Microsoft OneDrive sync tool and syncing the same document library connected to their <code class="expression">space.vars.PRODUCT\_NAME</code> network drive.

The OneDrive sync tool creates duplicate files and appends the name of the computer where it cannot resolve a conflict or the user has an [issue with their OneDrive sync tool credentials](https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/duplicate-files-in-onedrive-fd47ce5e-8dd0-465e-9e3a-461e1a3cf613).

To stop duplicate files from being created by OneDrive you can try the following;

* Un-sync the particular document library from the user's OneDrive sync tool
* Open Office documents for co-authoring. See [Co-Authoring And Exclusive Editing](/administration-guide/co-authoring-and-exclusive-editing.md) how to configure it by default
* Clear the Office cache;
  * Before clearing the cache, save and close open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. Check the OneDrive cloud icon (or Office Upload Center) for pending uploads. If a file has unsaved local changes that have not reached the server, resolve or back up that copy first. Clearing the cache can remove content that has not finished uploading
  * Open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint
  * Go to File → Options → Save
  * Under Cache Settings, select Delete cached files then click the confirm button


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