OFF: VBA Macro to Protect Multiple Sheets in a Workbook

ID: Q142111

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 5.0, 7.0
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, individual worksheets can only be protected one sheet at a time. It is not possible to protect multiple worksheets in a single step. However, you can use Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications code to protect multiple sheets through a looping procedure that can accept various degrees of user input.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

The following sample Visual Basic macro unconditionally protects all sheets in a workbook, without user intervention and without a password.

Sample Visual Basic Procedure

   Sub Protect_Example1()

      ' Loop through all sheets in the workbook.
      For i = 1 To Sheets.Count
         Sheets(i).Protect
      Next i

   End Sub

This example prompts you to determine if you want to protect the current sheet. If you answer yes, the sheet is then protected with a hard-coded password.

   Sub Protect_Example2()

      ' Loop through all sheets in the workbook
      For i = 1 To Sheets.Count

         ' Activate each sheet in turn.
         Sheets(i).Activate

         response = MsgBox("Do you want to protect this sheet?", vbYesNo)
         If response = vbYes Then
            ActiveSheet.Protect password:="larry", DrawingObjects:=True, _
               Contents:=True, Scenarios:=True

         ElseIf response = vbNo Then
            MsgBox ("Sheet not protected")

         End If
      Next i
   End Sub

Additional Options You Can Use To Protect Specific Sheet Types

To protect only Worksheets:

   For i = 1 To Worksheets.Count
      Worksheets(i).Activate

To protect only module sheets:

   For i = 1 To Modules.Count
      Modules(i).Activate

To protect only chart sheets:

   For i = 1 To Charts.Count
      Charts(i).Activate

To protect only Dialog sheets:

      For i = 1 To DialogSheets.Count
      DialogSheets(i).Activate

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 5.0, pages 683-689

Additional query words: 5.00 7.00 8.00

Keywords          : kbcode kbprg PgmHowto 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:5.0
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 6, 1999