XL: Removing the Control Menu and Application Window Controls

ID: Q117855

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can create a Visual Basic for applications, macro to disable or remove the application window and worksheet controls.

MORE INFORMATION

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   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/
You can use the following sample macro in conjunction with workbook protection, full-screen display, and a custom menu bar to remove the window controls on a Microsoft Excel workbook. The macro limits a user's ability to control the window by removing the maximize and minimize buttons and the window's control menu box, and by disabling the application switching keystrokes.

Macro Example

'Macro To Protect the Workbook and Limit User Control
'
Sub WbProtect()

     'Trap for the ALT+F4 (close application) key combination
     Application.OnKey "%{f4}", ""

   ' Note that if you are using Microsoft Excel for Windows 95,
   ' you are unable to override CTRL+ESC, ALT+TAB, and ALT+ESC.

     'Trap for the CTRL+ESC, ALT+TAB and ALT+ESC
     '(application switching) key combinations
     Application.OnKey "^{esc}", ""
     Application.OnKey "%{esc}", ""
     Application.OnKey "%{tab}", ""

     'Turn on error handling in case the Menu bar already exists
     On Error Resume Next

     'Make sure Microsoft Excel is Maximized
     Application.WindowState = xlMaximized

     'Make sure the workbook is maximized
     ActiveWindow.WindowState = xlMaximized

     'Protect the window
     ActiveWorkbook.Protect Structure:=True, Windows:=True
     With ActiveWindow
          .DisplayHorizontalScrollBar = False
          .DisplayVerticalScrollBar = False
          .DisplayWorkbookTabs = False
          .DisplayHeadings = False
     End With

     'Set the application to full screen view
     Application.DisplayFullScreen = True

     'Create a new blank menubar
     MenuBars.Add "mybar"

     'Show the blank menu bar
     MenuBars("mybar").Activate

End Sub

'-------------------------------------------------------------------

'Macro to Restore the Control Menu
'
Sub WbUnprotect()

'Enable the ALT+F4, CTRL+ESC, ALT+ESC, and ALT+TAB keys.
     Application.OnKey "%{f4}"
     Application.OnKey "^{esc}"
     Application.OnKey "%{esc}"
     Application.OnKey "%{tab}"

     On Error Resume Next

     'Restore normal menu if worksheet is active
     MenuBars(xlWorksheet).Activate

     'Restore normal menu if modulesheet is active
     MenuBars(xlModule).Activate

     'Turn off full screen display
     Application.DisplayFullScreen = False

    'Restore window options
    With ActiveWindow
       .DisplayHorizontalScrollBar = True
       .DisplayVerticalScrollBar = True
       .DisplayWorkbookTabs = True
       .DisplayHeadings = True
    End With

     'Unprotect the workbook
     ThisWorkbook.Unprotect

End Sub

REFERENCES

For more information about disabling control menu commands, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q107689
   TITLE     : XL: Disabling Microsoft Excel Control Menu Commands
Additional query words: xl97 7.00 5.00 API protect user Hide 
Keywords          : kbprg kbdta xlui KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999