it seems there is an inconsistency in Excel when i open a 2013 Excel report. We have all our reports set up as 'Prompt user about Data Connections' and half time a report shows a message 'External Data Connections have been disabled' and half time its doesn't.  Is there a way to make those messages consistent? (either never show up or always show up, we don't want the user to get confused)



here is a report with exactly the same settings and it opens up without a message

Hi Tatiana,

Based on your decryption, when you opened excel reports you always get SECURITY WARMING.

First I suggest you add location where you excel file resides into trusted location list.

1. Click File > Options.
2. Click Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations.
3. Click Add new location.
4. Click Browse to find the folder, select a folder, and then click OK.

https://support.office.com/en-gb/article/Add-remove-or-change-a-trusted-location-7ee1cdc2-483e-4cbb-bcb3-4e7c67147fb4

Please check if the connection by default will be enabled when you open Excel file.

Then if you are using External connections (for example SharePoint), then instead you should enable all data connections for external content in the Excel Trust Center. Connections to external data might be disabled on your computer. To connect to data when you open a workbook, you must enable data connections by using the Trust Center bar, or by putting the workbook in a trusted location.

1. Click File > Options.
2. Click Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > External Content.
3. Click Enable all Data Connections.
4. Click Ok.

Please try these methods and check if they work for you. Im glad to help and follow up your reply.

Regards,

George Zhao
Forum Support
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Hi,

Just checking in to see if the information was helpful. Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

Thanks

George Zhao
Forum Support
________________________________________
Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
If you have any feedback on our support, please click "tnfsl@microsoft.com"

someone in my company finally figured out what was the reason for inconsistent excel messages. 

The first time someone runs a report they will see the Security warning:

If you click on Enable Content you have another question:

If you answer YES then this report will be trusted the next time you open the report and you wont see the Security Warning.  If you answer NO then it isnt trusted and you will get the warning.