Hide a worksheet and require password to unhide

Question

I would like to hide several worksheets within a workbook (Excel 2010) and require a password to unhide some of them, but not all of them (so I do not want to protect the whole workbook structure).  I found the instructions below on another user forum which seemed to be exactly what I was looking for.  I followed these steps, and everything worked as described, except when I return to the VBA properties window for the worksheets where I set the Visible property to "veryhidden", I am able to change the setting to Visible or Hidden and am not prompted for the password I entered for the VBA project.  Is there another step/setting not described below that is needed to prompt for the password before the user would be able to view or change the properties for the worksheet?

1. Go into the screen (press Alt-F11)
2. Select the sheet you want to hide in the Project Explorer (press Ctrl-R if you don't see it)
3. In the Properties Window (F4 if you don't see it) change the 'Visible' property to '2 - xlSheetVeryHidden'
4. Then set a password for the VBAProject like this:
   1. 'Tools' menu up at the top
   2. Select 'VBAProject Properties...'
   3. Select 'Protection' tab
   4. Check the Checkbox for 'Lock project for viewing'
   5. Enter and Confirm your password below.
   6. Click 'OK'

This will password protect your whole Project if that works for you, but you wouldn't be able to unhide the worksheet unless you entered the Project by typeing the password.

Answer 1

All I can suggest at this point is to try doing a REPAIR install of Office/Excel because the process you have described here should result in a locked VBA project that requires you to enter the password to see the contents.

To try a Repair installation, go to the Control Panel and then to Programs and Features (in small icon layout) and find your version of Office in the list.  Highlight it and click the [Change] 'button' above the list of programs.  The install dialog window should open and I believe the SECOND entry in it is to REPAIR the installation.

Answer 2

Thanks for your reply...I actually did save, close and reopen but was still able to change the visibility property without entering a password

Answer 3

Hi,

Once you've done the above bit you must save - Close and re-open the workbook for the changes to take place.

Also note this step is very important

4. Check the Checkbox for 'Lock project for viewing'

Answer 4

...and the "lock project for viewing" box is checked as well!