XL: Can't Add Object to Sheet Protected as UserInterfaceOnly

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you programmatically protect a worksheet so that you can make changes only with a Visual Basic for Applications macro, and then run a macro, the following error message may appear:

   Run-time error '1004':
   Add method of <object> class failed.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

• You use the Protect method for the worksheet and set the UserInterfaceOnly argument to True.

  -and-

• You run a macro that attempts to add a drawing object to the worksheet.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic for Applications procedures 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. The Visual Basic procedures in this article are provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular macro, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct macros to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers. Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating custom macros. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400.

To work around this problem, unprotect the worksheet before adding the drawing object, and then reprotect the sheet, as in the following example:

   Sub AddObject()

      'Unprotect the Sheet.
      ActiveSheet.Unprotect password:="pwd"

      'Add a drawing object.
      ActiveSheet.Rectangles.Add 0, 0, 100, 100

      'Protect the sheet again with "UserInterFaceOnly."
      ActiveSheet.Protect password:="pwd", userinterfaceonly:=True

      'The macro can continue making changes to the "UserInterfaceOnly"
      'protected worksheet other than adding drawing objects.
      ActiveSheet.Range("A10").Value = "Hello World"

   End Sub

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.