Protecting macro code programatically

[Anand Nichkaode]

Hi all,

We are using Excel for reporting in our organization.
Basically there is a Java web application which instantiates Excel 2007 with
an XLAM. This XLAM opens a Report Template(an .xls, .xlsm file, name
supplied as
command line parameter). The Template has a data sheet where we have multiple
ranges and the Report sheet which shows the final report based on the data
from the DataSheet. The ReportSheet contains formulas to show the final
output. It could contain Charts/Graphs also. The data is fetched from SQL
server and is pasted on the Ranges. And finally when all the data is pasted
and Macro is run the Template is saved as a Final Report somewhere on the
Report Server.

The Excel runs in the background in all this process. There could be
multiple instances of Excel running on the same box. The instances run under
separate WindowStation.

In this process depending on the options selected by the end user, the Report
options are applied on the final report workbook. The some of the Report
options are Protect Workbook, Protect Worksheets, Protect Macro Code,
Delete Macro code, etc.

I am facing a problem when it comes to Protecting Macro Code.
I believe that there is no API/Excel Object Mode available to accomplish
this task.

Given below is the code I am using for protecting the macro code.

Sub protectMacroCode()

With Application
.CutCopyMode = False
.DisplayAlerts = False

.SendKeys "%{F11}", True
.SendKeys "%T", True
.SendKeys "E", True
.SendKeys "^{TAB}", True
.SendKeys "%V", True
.SendKeys "{TAB}" & Trim("XXXXXX"), True
.SendKeys "{TAB}" & Trim("XXXXXX"), True
.SendKeys "~", True
.SendKeys "%{F11}", True
End With
End Sub

The XLAM writes the above code to the Report Workbook and Excutes this
macro code. The macro is successfully written in the workbook but does
not work as expected when call from XLAM.

Whereas this particular piece of code works fine when the workbook has
this macro already present and the XLAM just executes it.

If anybody have any idea please let me know as it is a blocking issue in our
process.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bob Phillips]

Why do you need to protect the workbook dynamically, why not just set the
password in the design mode?

 

[Anand Nichkaode]

Thx for the reply.

If the workbook is Protected in the design mode then I won't be able to open
it in XLAM and work upon it i.e Paste Data and apply Report options, etc.

The flow is that the user uploads the Template ( a simple workbook empty
formulas and empty ranges where data would be pasted and formulas would
calculate on the data pasted) which is opened in XLAM and worked upon and
saved as the final report. So if the Template itself is protected then XLAM
wont be able to open it and work upon.

Please let me know if I am missing something.

 

[Bob Phillips]

I think that you can, I certainly do that all of the time.

I have never had to unprotect my code to run it, worksheets yes, but not
the code.

 

[Anand Nichkaode]

Agreed. I don't have to unprotect the code to run it.

But then I have a "Delete macro" option, which user can select and I have to
delete all the macro code from the XLAM and then save the Final Report
workbook. I guess for that purpose I will have to unprotect the code too.

Thx for the reply.

 

[Bob Phillips]

Then you are stuck, there is nothing exposed in the VBE object model to
allow you to do what you want.

Personally, I think that adding/deleting code/controls dynamically is not a
good idea, it is better to design around it IMO.

 

[Anand Nichkaode]

I know that. And that is why I was trying other approach (refere to the code
above). But somehow it doesn't work immediately after insert the macro in
the workbook. I even tried Inserting Macro-Save workbook-Close Workbook-Open
Workbook-Run Macro approach. It still fails.

Not able to identify what is going wrong.

Thanks for the help.

 

[paulgu]

Disable rather than delete macro?

I haven't worked with Excel 2007 so this may be irrelevant but...

Why not, rather than delete the macro (which is inaccessible to the user anyway as it's password protected) , make the macro either carry out the action or do nothing depending on a (protected) cell value or other parameter when the user runs it? Change the option from 'Delete macro X' to 'Disable macro X' and set the relevant parameter value if the option is requested.

 

[Bob Phillips]

That is not designing around it as I see it, that is still trying to allow
dynamic code deletion.

By designing around it, I mean add some logic so that the macro won't run in
those circumstances, it will still be there, but dormant.

 

[Anand Nichkaode]

Sorry, but I am not sure I got you fully.

Thanks for the reply

 

[Bob Phillips]

As an example, I would have my macro test for a name constant in the target
workbook. If it does not exist, the default state, then I would run the
macro. If it did exits, I would exit silently. Then, where you want to add
code to delete that macro, I would set the name constant.

 

[Anand Nichkaode]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the response.

Continuing our discussion with Protecting macro code programatically, I have
been able do that programatically with SendKeys, but what I observed is that
after Checking "Lock Project for viewing" and putting "Password to view
project properties" when I close the workbook after saving it somehow Macro
code is not password protected. I am doing all this operation from XLAM. I
also observed that even after closing the workbook on which I worked on
(password protect the macro code) I could see the VBAProject still open in
the VB editor. And also I could see the protection in the VBA Project. But
when I re-open the workbook, the macro code is not password protected.

Any info on this would help me a lot as it is really a blocking issue.

Thanks in advance.

 

[gg67 gg67]

Hello there,

i coded a VBA module for Excel that allows to unprotect a VBA project programmatically.
Nope, it does NOT break any password. That's, you need the password for the VBA project that you want to unprotect.

It's just a different way than the SendKeys method.
My method uses win32 messages and timers.

HF

the link :
http://www.twen.name/temp/jb_vbaproject_unlocker_v1.07.zip

 

[Jim Rech]

Very nice piece of work Jérôme! Thanks for donating it to us. It
definitely fills a need.