PROTECT.DOCUMENT

Macro Sheets Only

Adds protection to or removes protection from the active sheet, macro sheet, chart, dialog sheet, module, or scenario. Use PROTECT.DOCUMENT to prevent yourself or others from changing cell contents, or objects in a workbook. To protect workbooks in Microsoft Excel version 5.0, see WORKBOOK.PROTECT.

Syntax

PROTECT.DOCUMENT(contents, windows, password, objects, scenarios)
PROTECT.DOCUMENT?( contents, windows, password, objects, scenarios)

Contents is a logical value corresponding to the Contents check box in the Protect Sheet dialog box.

• If contents is TRUE or omitted, Microsoft Excel selects the check box and protects cells and chart elements on the sheet or macro sheet.
• If contents is FALSE, Microsoft Excel clears the check box (and removes protection if the correct password is supplied).

Windows is provided for compatibility with Microsoft Excel version 4.0. To protect the window placement and structure of workbooks in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 or later, see WORKBOOK.PROTECT.

• If windows is TRUE, Microsoft Excel prevents a document's windows from being moved or sized.
• If windows is FALSE or omitted, Microsoft Excel removes protection if the correct password is supplied.

Password is the password you specify in the form of text to protect or unprotect the file. Password is case-sensitive.

• If password is omitted when you protect a document, then you will be able to remove protection without a password. This is useful if you want only to protect the document from accidental changes.
• If password is omitted when you try to remove protection from a document that was protected with a password, the normal password dialog box is displayed.
• Passwords are not recorded into the PROTECT.DOCUMENT function when you use the macro recorder.

Objects is a logical value. This argument applies only to charts, worksheets and macro sheets. Objects corresponds to the Objects check box in the Protect Sheet dialog box.

• If objects is TRUE or omitted, Microsoft Excel selects the check box and protects all locked objects on the chart, worksheet or macro sheet.
• If objects is FALSE, Microsoft Excel clears the check box.

Scenarios is a logical value that corresponds to the Scenarios check box on the Protect Sheet dialog box. If TRUE, Microsoft Excel protects all the scenarios. If FALSE, the scenarios are not protected.

Remarks

• If contents and objects are FALSE, PROTECT.DOCUMENT carries out the Unprotect Sheet command. If contents, or objects is TRUE, it carries out the Protect Sheet command.
• Make sure that you hide macro sheets that protect or unprotect worksheets. If you type a password directly into the function on an unhidden macro sheet, then someone could see the password needed to unprotect the worksheet. For example, PROTECT.DOCUMENT(TRUE, TRUE, "XD1411C", TRUE).

Warning If you forget the password of a document that was previously protected with a password, you cannot unprotect the document.

Related Functions

CELL.PROTECTION Controls protection for the selected cells

ENTER.DATA Turns Data Entry mode on and off

OBJECT.PROTECTION Controls how an object is protected

SAVE.AS Saves a workbook and allows you to specify the name, file type, password, backup file, and location of the workbook

WORKBOOK.PROTECT Protects a workbook

List of Command-Equivalent Functions