Excel Grouping & Protection

[David]

Hi,

I want to use the Excel group function on a worksheet
that will be protected. However, once protection is on,
the user cannot use the group functionality to show/hide
columns.

Anyone any ideas how to get around this?

Dave.

 

[Dave Peterson]

If you already have the outline applied, you can protect the worksheet in code
(auto_open/workbook_open??).

Option Explicit
Sub auto_open()
With Worksheets("sheet1")
.Protect Password:="hi", userinterfaceonly:=True
.EnableOutlining = True
End With
End Sub

It needs to be reset each time you open the workbook. (excel doesn't remember
it after closing the workbook.)

(you could use the workbook_open even under ThisWorkbook, too.)

Don't forget to lock the VBA Project, too. Else you'll have inquisitive types
looking at your code and seeing the password.

Inside the VBE, you can lock the project.
Tools|VBAProject Properties|Protection tab.
Give it a memorable password and lock the project for viewing.

If you're new to macros, you may want to read David McRitchie's intro at:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm