sheet protection

[sandy]

Backwards compatibility question: I open an excel workbook
developed/saved in excel 97. Where cells were locked and
the sheet protected, in excel 2002 I cannot even SELECT
those cells to perform a copy operation. Is there a
workaround?

 

[Ken Wright]

As long as you have access to the password then unprotect it and in the Protection options when
you reprotect it, choose the option that allows you to select protected cells. There are a whole
raft of options that come with protection in Excel 2002.

 

[Guest]

Thanks. No, do not have (and should have) the password. In
the past, one could still at least select protected/locked
cells in order to copy/paste elsewhere. Now, people will
be completely locked out of this Excel 97 originated
workbook and we don't know what to do! Any workaround?

-----Original Message-----
As long as you have access to the password then unprotect

it and in the Protection options when

you reprotect it, choose the option that allows you to

select protected cells. There are a whole

 

[Ken Wright]

Here's a previous note from Norman Harker plus a couple of extra little
macros thrown in for good measure. Personally, I like the first link to
Straxx.com - That will fix your problem, as will any of the 3 macros that
are quoted.


Please note that unauthorized use of password recovery techniques can breach
software license agreements and leave you without otherwise available
assistance and remedies. You may also be liable to being sued or even
prosecuted under the terms of the software license. You can in some cases be
in breach of terms of your employment and find yourself out on the street.
You are warned that civil and criminal proceedings risks should not be
viewed lightly. If in any doubt, don't. Most, if not all software providers,
will assist genuine cases by email free of charge.

Anyone who has comments or sites to add please feel free to respond.

You need SECTION 2. Please report back your success / failures with
commercial products as these comments will help others.

Obviously, this post comes with a complete money back guarantee. (You paid
none; you'll get none back!)

The real lessons to be learned? Keep a track of your passwords. Look after
your employees and they'll not leave without telling you the passwords!
Excel is not, and has never been made out to be secure as a mode of storing
data.


SECTION 1 For Worksheet and Workbook (*Not* Protected (Un-openable) files).

http://www.straxx.com/excel/password.html
Free of charge but requests a donation. Excel 5.0 up to XP. They've been
going for years and it does reveal *a* password rather than *the* password


For Worksheet passwords, the following code usually works:

Sub PasswordBreaker()
'by Bob McCormick on NG: microsoft.public.excel.misc on 22 May 2001.

'Breaks worksheet password protection.
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer

On Error Resume Next
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) _
& Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) _
& Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) _
& Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Exit Sub
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub


Another Macro you can try:-

Sub RemovePassword()
ActiveSheet.Protect UserInterFaceOnly:=True
Debug.Print ActiveSheet.ProtectContents
Range("A1").Copy Destination:=Range("A2")
Debug.Print ActiveSheet.ProtectContents
End Sub


Another Macro you can try (Won't work in XL 2002):-

Sub SheetPassword()
ActiveSheet.Protect "", , , , True
ActiveSheet.Range("a1").Copy ActiveSheet.Range("a1")
End Sub


SECTION 2. File Protection Password Recovery

http://www.intertek.org.uk/
Excel Workbook recovery. Demo version up to 2 characters free. Full version
for $5 advertises ability to recover any password.


Elcomsoft Advanced Office XP Password Recovery
http://www.elcomsoft.com/aoxppr.html
Unregistered (trial) version can be used during 30 days after installation
(although it doesn't expire, actually) and has some limitations. They have
programs for earlier versions. Cost of license $30


Lostpassword.Com
http://www.lostpassword.com/excel.htm
All versions of MS Excel are supported (including Excel 2002) $45. Download
demo version covers 2 character passwords and works but not much use. The
licensed version covers passwords up to 9 characters. They do have a 4-7 day
guaranteed decryption service for a fee!


AccentSoft Excel password recovery
http://www.denglad.com/en/excel.shtml
Free trial version for up to 4 characters. Covers Excel 97 - XP. License $25


Soft4You
http://www.soft4you.com/excel/default.asp
Downloadable free trial up to 3 characters. Covers Excel 4.0 to XP. Workbook
Version License $35 Workbook + VBA License $49. They also have a guaranteed
password recovery service done on a per document basis.


Discount Password Recovery
http://www.discountpasswordrecovery.com/
Operates on a per document basis. 8+ characters can take 7-15 days and costs
$167.95