Information
This policy setting controls whether Office applications can load an XML expansion pack manifest file with a Smart Document. The recommended state for this setting is: Enabled. An XML expansion pack is the group of files that constitutes a Smart Document in Excel and Word. You package one or more components that provide the logic needed for a Smart Document by using an XML expansion pack. These components can include any type of file, including XML schemas, Extensible Stylesheet Language Transforms (XSLTs), dynamic-link libraries (DLLs), and image files, as well as additional XML files, HTML files, Word files, Excel files, and text files. The key component to building an XML expansion pack is creating an XML expansion pack manifest file. By creating this file, you specify the locations of all files that make up the XML expansion pack, as well as information that instructs Office how to set up the files for your Smart Document. The XML expansion pack can also contain information about how to set up some files, such as how to install and register a COM object required by the XML expansion pack. XML expansion packs can be used to initialize and load malicious code, which might affect the stability of a computer and lead to data loss. By default, Office applications can load an XML expansion pack manifest file with a Smart Document.
Solution
To implement the recommended configuration state, set the following Group Policy setting to Enabled. User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office 2016\Smart Documents (Word, Excel)\Disable Smart Document's Use of Manifests Impact: Enabling this setting prevents users from working with Smart Documents. It might not be feasible to enable this setting.