excel - Getting a .xlsm file to not execute code when being opened with VBA

Question

I have a macro in Excel. Part of that macro opens up other workbooks using Workbooks.Open(Filepath).

Some of the workbooks I'm opening have (badly done) VBA code inside of them, that try to then calculate a UDF and fail horribly.

Without resorting to an On Error Resume Next or an On Error GoTo, how do I say "Open this file, DO NOT RUN ANY CODE".

Trying to avoid letting the code execute in the first place due to possible security concerns. I feel comfortable enough opening these files, and there's a decent chance that they're not going to be compromised, but breaches can happen, and why have a hole when I don't need one? I also don't want error messages interrupting my code executing.

Searching the web just shows me shift+open opens the file without executing code, which is not at all what I'm looking to do. I'm looking for the equivalent VBA method.

Answer 1

AutomationSecurity is likely what you want:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/api/Excel.Application.AutomationSecurity

MsoAutomationSecurity can be one of these MsoAutomationSecurity constants.

msoAutomationSecurityByUI . Uses the security setting specified in the Security dialog box.

msoAutomationSecurityForceDisable . Disables all macros in all files opened programmatically without showing any security alerts. Note This setting does not disable Microsoft Excel 4.0 macros. If a file that contains Microsoft Excel 4.0 macros is opened programmatically, the user will be prompted to decide whether or not to open the file.

msoAutomationSecurityLow . Enables all macros. This is the default value when the application is started.