links in protected workbooks

[carourke]

In Excel 2007 I have five workbooks that are linked to a 6th workbook. Each
of the 5 workbooks is password protected to open. When I open the 6th
workbook, Excel requests that I provide the password of each of the 5
workbooks so the links will update, Is there a way around that.

 

[Luke M]

In short, no.

Think about what you're asking. You've protected 5 workbooks from being able
to be viewed with a password. This is good, as it protects your info from
eyes that should see it. Now, you're wanting to have another workbook be able
to gather that info w/o having to provide a password! If this were possible,
the original 5 passwords would be useless as a nosy person would just create
a sepearte workbook that used formulas to link in all the data from the
protected workbook.

Now, perhaps you didn't actually mean to password protect the opening of a
workbook, just protect the structure. If you change this (Tools - Protection
- Protect Sheet) and unprotect the workbook from viewing (SaveAs - Tools -
Security, turn off password), then you could link the data in w/o having to
provide a password for each of the workbooks.

 

[carourke]

The unprotected one is in a separate folder with restricted access, I was
trying not to have to create 5 separate folders with restricted access so I
put the 5 workbooks in one folder and then password protected them.