XL97: Cannot Modify Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0 Add-in

ID: Q160131

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In the Visual Basic Editor, when you attempt to access a project for an add-in saved in the Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0 file format, you receive the following error message:

   Project is unviewable

You cannot edit the worksheets or modules in the project, and you cannot modify any of the project properties.

CAUSE

When you run a Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0 add-in in Microsoft Excel 97, the behavior of the add-in remains unchanged. However, the method that you use to edit and protect an add-in in Microsoft Excel 97 is different from the method you use in Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0.

Add-ins that you save in a format for use with earlier versions of Microsoft Excel are protected; you cannot access the worksheets in Microsoft Excel, and you cannot access the modules in the Visual Basic Editor. These protective measures are used to protect the add-in being changed. Microsoft Excel uses a random password to protect the project, which prevents the add-in from being unprotected.

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

RESOLUTION

To edit and modify an add-in that is created in Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0, open the source workbook used to create the add-in, and make modifications to the source. After you modify the source workbook, create a new add-in from the source workbook.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information on creating Microsoft Excel 97 add-ins, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q156942
   TITLE     : XL97: How to Create an Add-in File in Microsoft Excel 97

Additional query words: XL5 XL95 XL97 8.0 8.00 project locked addin not viewable invisible hidden

Keywords          : kberrmsg kbprg kbdta xladdins KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999