Forum Discussion
Unprotecting a workbook
I have a workbook that suddenly has its structure protected. There is no password, but when I uncheck the 'Structure' box in the 'Protect workbook for' section of the 'Protect Structure and Windows' dialog, the OK button becomes greyed out - see image.
Why is this happening, how can I stop it, how can I unprotect the workbook?
10 Replies
Hi
The screenshot shows that your workbook is currently not protected because the dialog only appears when you are going to protect the workbook.
Thank you for this, Detlef.
The highlighted information visible via File -> Protect Workbook shows that it is - please see attached screengrab 'Protected.png'. The 'Protect Structrure and Windows' dialog appears when I click on the (currently highlighted) 'Protect Workbook Structure' option, and also of course when I choose Review -> Protect Workbook from the Ribbon.
Furthermore, I am currently prevented from (eg) freezing panes.
Thank you again for your response.
Cheers MD.Hi Mark
When I am going via File -> Protect Workbook in a protected workbook and click on "Protect Workbook Structure" the workbook is no longer protected - provided that no password was used.
When protecting a workbook's structure you MUST enter a password. If there is no password, the structure is not protected.See the support article for details on how protecting the structure works.
Thank you for the quick reply, Ingeborg, however both my experience and the link you provided contradict your statement: please see attached image 'Protect.PNG', cut from the support article you provide, which shows that the password is optional. Menawhile, in this workbook, navigating to File -> Protect Workbook confirms that the structure of the workbook is protected,
However, this is not really the issue, as I am never challenged for a password. Nor am I trying to add protection, only remove it. But, as soon as I uncheck the (checked) 'Structure' box the 'OK' button greys out and is unclickable.
I have no idea why this protection is there; it wasn't the last time I opened the workbook. It's in a Dropbox folder which has this evening been synced to a new W7 machine. Since the last time I opened it in W7 I have opened it on a Linux laptop in LibreOffice, but not saved any changes, so I doubt this is the problem.
Thank you again for your reply.
Cheers MD.
IngeborgHawighorst wrote:When protecting a workbook's structure you MUST enter a password. If there is no password, the structure is not protected.
The dialog clearly states "Password (optional)".
Yes, password is optional, my bad.
When a file structure is protected (even without a password), then the icon in the ribbon is highlighted.
To remove the protection, click the icon in the ribbon. If there is no password, the icon simply changes colour and the workbook structure is no longer protected.
