Password protection lost

[pd]

Hey Folks. Excel 2000 with service pack 3. There is a file on my company
network that from what I'm told has always been password protected. All of a
sudden a user opens the file and it doesn't ask for a password. She goes back
in and it appears and passeord-protects the file however, it does not stick.
I don't have another users machine to test the file on so it is a little
difficult right now. Any ideas what could have happened or what can I do to
repair?

 

[Dave Peterson]

I think I'd verify that the file that she opened was the one on the network
server.

Put this in an empty cell after she opens the troublesome workbook:

=cell("Filename",a1)

Does it return what you expect?

Sometimes people save a copy (unprotected???) to a different location and then
create a shortcut to this other file.

Second, what kind of password protection is applied?

If it's a password to open (via file|saveas|tools dialog), then this isn't the
problem--but if it's a password to modify, then maybe....

If the the workbook is stored on a network drive that that user does not have
write access, then excel/windows is smart enough to know that the workbook can
only be opened in readonly mode--and you never even get the prompt.

But if you look at the titlebar, you will see ReadOnly.

====

(I'd suspect user error if this wasn't it. Can you sit and watch what happens?
Or even open a NetMeeting to watch what she does?)

 

[pd]

Thank you Dave, this is very helpful

I think I'd verify that the file that she opened was the one on the network
server.

Put this in an empty cell after she opens the troublesome workbook:

=cell("Filename",a1)

Does it return what you expect?

Sometimes people save a copy (unprotected???) to a different location and then
create a shortcut to this other file.

Second, what kind of password protection is applied?

If it's a password to open (via file|saveas|tools dialog), then this isn't the
problem--but if it's a password to modify, then maybe....

If the the workbook is stored on a network drive that that user does not have
write access, then excel/windows is smart enough to know that the workbook can
only be opened in readonly mode--and you never even get the prompt.

But if you look at the titlebar, you will see ReadOnly.

====

(I'd suspect user error if this wasn't it. Can you sit and watch what happens?
Or even open a NetMeeting to watch what she does?)