XL: Cannot Activate or Change Protected Objects

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, if a worksheet and its objects have been protected, you cannot activate or change objects that are linked by using the object linking and embedding (OLE) feature.

WORKAROUND

To activate an OLE object or to make a change to any type of object, first make sure that your worksheet is not protected. To unprotect a worksheet, use the following appropriate method.

Microsoft Excel Versions 5.0 and Later

Point to Protection on the Tools menu, and then click Unprotect Sheet. If a password is requested, enter the password and click OK to continue.

Microsoft Excel Version 4.0

On the Options menu, click Unprotect Document. If a password is requested, enter the password and click OK to continue.

If you want the worksheet to remain protected, but you also want to be able to activate OLE objects or make changes to any type of object, use the following appropriate method.

Microsoft Excel Versions 5.0 and Later

1. Point to Protection on the Tools menu, and then click Protect Sheet.

2. In the Protect Sheet dialog box, clear the Objects check box. Select any other options you want, and click OK.

Microsoft Excel Version 4.0

1. On the Options menu, click Protect Document.

2. In the Protect Document dialog box, clear the Objects check box. Select any other options you want, and click OK.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

MORE INFORMATION

When you protect a worksheet by using the Protect Sheet dialog box (Protect Document in version 4.0), you are given the option to protect objects. If you protect objects, all objects not contained in cells (such as embedded charts, text boxes, drawn objects, and OLE objects) cannot be changed. Because activating an OLE object allows you to change it, Microsoft Excel does not allow you to activate a protected OLE object. Similarly, Microsoft Excel does not allow any type of change in position, size, or content of any type of object if the worksheet has been protected.

You do not receive an error message when you try to activate or change the object.

This behavior is different from behavior with protected cells. If you attempt to change locked and protected cells on a worksheet, you receive the following error message:

   Locked cells cannot be changed

REFERENCES

"User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 87-90