custom views in protected worksheets

[Cestbon]

I run Excel 2003 professional and have created a workbook to be used by a
number of users. It contains a password protected worksheet into which data
is entered. Users can manipulate the sheet with the protection on e.g. using
auto filter.

The workbook also contains a number of sheets with pivot table reports.
These sheets are not protected.

Custom views are used to display the columns different users want in printed
reports from the data sheet. However these return an error message "some
views could not be applied" when selected after the sheet is protected. The
custom views cannot be applied after the sheet is protected.

Is there any way in which the sheet can be protected but allow the custom
views to be applied, without resorting to the use of macros?

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

Instead of Custom Views, you can allow users to format the columns when
you protect the sheet, then they can hide the columns manually.

To use the Custom Views, you'd need a macro that unprotects the sheet,
applies the custom view, then reprotects the sheet.