_Worksheet.Protect Method

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel

Assembly:: Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel.dll

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Protects a worksheet so that it cannot be modified.

public void Protect (object Password, object DrawingObjects, object Contents, object Scenarios, object UserInterfaceOnly, object AllowFormattingCells, object AllowFormattingColumns, object AllowFormattingRows, object AllowInsertingColumns, object AllowInsertingRows, object AllowInsertingHyperlinks, object AllowDeletingColumns, object AllowDeletingRows, object AllowSorting, object AllowFiltering, object AllowUsingPivotTables);

Public Sub Protect (Optional Password As Object, Optional DrawingObjects As Object, Optional Contents As Object, Optional Scenarios As Object, Optional UserInterfaceOnly As Object, Optional AllowFormattingCells As Object, Optional AllowFormattingColumns As Object, Optional AllowFormattingRows As Object, Optional AllowInsertingColumns As Object, Optional AllowInsertingRows As Object, Optional AllowInsertingHyperlinks As Object, Optional AllowDeletingColumns As Object, Optional AllowDeletingRows As Object, Optional AllowSorting As Object, Optional AllowFiltering As Object, Optional AllowUsingPivotTables As Object)

Parameters

Password: Object

Optional Object. A string that specifies a case-sensitive password for the worksheet or workbook. If this argument is omitted, you can unprotect the worksheet or workbook without using a password. Otherwise, you must specify the password to unprotect the worksheet or workbook. If you forget the password, you cannot unprotect the worksheet or workbook. It's a good idea to keep a list of your passwords and their corresponding document names in a safe place.

DrawingObjects: Object

Optional Object. True to protect shapes. The default value is False.

Contents: Object

Optional Object. True to protect contents. For a chart, this protects the entire chart. For a worksheet, this protects the locked cells. The default value is True.

Scenarios: Object

Optional Object. True to protect scenarios. This argument is valid only for worksheets. The default value is True.

UserInterfaceOnly: Object

Optional Object. True to protect the user interface but not macros. If this argument is omitted, protection applies both to macros and to the user interface.

AllowFormattingCells: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to format any cell on a protected worksheet. The default value is False.

AllowFormattingColumns: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to format any column on a protected worksheet. The default value is False.

AllowFormattingRows: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to format any row on a protected worksheet. The default value is False.

AllowInsertingColumns: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to insert columns on the protected worksheet. The default value is False.

AllowInsertingRows: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to insert rows on the protected worksheet. The default value is False.

AllowInsertingHyperlinks: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to insert hyperlinks on the worksheet. The default value is False.

AllowDeletingColumns: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to delete columns on the protected worksheet, where every cell in the column to be deleted is unlocked. The default value is False.

AllowDeletingRows: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to delete rows on the protected worksheet where every cell in the row to be deleted is unlocked. The default value is False.

AllowSorting: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to sort on the protected worksheet. Every cell in the sort range must be unlocked or unprotected. The default value is False.

AllowFiltering: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to set filters on the protected worksheet. Users can change filter criteria but can not enable or disable an auto filter. Users can set filters on an existing auto filter. The default value is False.

AllowUsingPivotTables: Object

Optional Object. True allows the user to use pivot table reports on the protected worksheet. The default value is False.

Remarks

If you apply the Protect method with the UserInterfaceOnly argument set to True to a worksheet and then save the workbook, the entire worksheet (not just the interface) will be fully protected when you reopen the workbook. To re-enable the user interface protection after the workbook is opened, you must again apply the Protect method with UserInterfaceOnly set to True.

If you want to make a change to a protected worksheet, it is possible to use the Protect method on a protected worksheet if the password is supplied. Another method would be to unprotect the worksheet, make the necessary changes, and then protect the worksheet again.

Note: 'Unprotected' means the cell may be locked (Format Cells dialog) but is included in a range defined in the Allow Users to Edit Ranges dialog, and the user has unprotected the range with a password or been validated via NT permissions.

Applies to