We can protect our workbook using a created VBA macro rather than protect only a single worksheet. This prevents unauthorised access to the content of the workbook. This tutorial will teach us how to protect our workbook using excel VBA.
Figure 1: Password protect macro
How to Protect Workbook with Password
To use VBA to protect our workbook, we need to enable the Developer tab
- We will click on any of the Menu tab options like Review
Figure 2: Excel VBA protect sheet
- We will right-click on Review and click Customise the Ribbon
- In the Excel options dialog box, we will check the Developer box in the Main tabs section at the right.
- We will click OK
Figure 3: Enabled Developer tab to protect with vba code
Record Macros
Before protecting the workbook, we have to record the macro. To do this, we will do the following:
- We will click the Developer tab and select Record Macro
Figure 4: Record Macro
- In the Record Macro dialog box, we will choose a macro name and select where we will store our macro and click OK
Figure 5: Record Macro dialog box
Protect Workbook
- We will click on Visual Basic
Figure 6: Click on Visual Basic
- If we do not have a created module, we will right-click on VBAProject (Personal.XLSB), click on Insert and select Module
Figure 7: Creating a Module
- We will click on Module 1 and insert the code below
<strong>Sub ProtectSheets()
Dim wsheet As Worksheet
For Each wsheet In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
wsheet.Protect Password:="password"
Next wsheet
End Sub</strong>
- We will close the VBA window
- We will assign the macro to the quick access toolbar
- We will click on the drop-down arrow beside the redo icon
Figure 8: Adding macro to quick access toolbar
- We will click on More commands
- In the Choose command from section, we will select macros, click the Personal.XLSB!PersonalMacroWorkbook and select Add
Figure 9: Excel options dialog box
- We will click the Personal.XLSB!PersonalMacroWorkbook on the right and click Modify below
Figure 10: Modify Button
- We will select a button and click OK to view the button in the quick access toolbar
Figure 11: Selected button
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