Protection

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom
  • Start date Start date
T

Tom

May be a bad question to post but trying to help a former
colleague.

I create a workbook four years ago which I password
protected. Turned the whole file with password over to
the person filling my position when I left. They in turn
left w/o passing the password along. Someone from the
company just called to ask me if I remember what the
password was which I don't. Any way to override?
 
Tom, is this a password to open, sheet protection, or workbook protection?

--
Paul B
Always backup your data before trying something new
Please post any response to the newsgroups so others can benefit from it
Feedback on answers is always appreciated!
Using Excel 97 & 2000
** remove news from my email address to reply by email **
 
Workbook is protected, sheets are hidden (which is what
the person is trying to see).

Tom...
 
I do not believe there are any free downloads that will help on a protected
workbook, althought there are many for protected worksheets. Google for
"Excel password" and see what pops up.
 
Tom, the code below will take the protection off the workbook

Public Sub AllInternalPasswords()
'Breaks worksheet and workbook structure passwords.
'Bob McCormick probably originator of base code algorithm
'Modified for coverage of workbook structure / windows
'passwords and for multiple passwords
'Norman Harker and JE McGimpsey 27-Dec-2002
'Reveals passwords NOT "the" passwords
Const DBLSPACE As String = vbNewLine & vbNewLine
Dim Mess As String, Header As String
Dim Authors As String, Version As String
Dim RepBack As String, AllClear As String
Dim PWord1 As String
Dim ShTag As Boolean, WinTag As Boolean
Dim w1 As Worksheet, w2 As Worksheet
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer, l As Integer
Dim m As Integer, n As Integer, i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer
Dim i3 As Integer, i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Header = "AllInternalPasswords User Message"
Authors = DBLSPACE & vbNewLine & "Adapted from Bob " & _
"McCormick base code by Norman Harker " & _
"and JE McGimpsey"
Version = DBLSPACE & "Version 1.1 27-Dec-2002"
RepBack = DBLSPACE & "Please report success or " & _
"failure back to newsgroup."
AllClear = DBLSPACE & "The workbook should now " & _
"be free of all password protection so " & _
"make sure you:" & DBLSPACE & _
"SAVE IT NOW!" & DBLSPACE & _
"and also" & DBLSPACE & _
"BACKUP!, BACKUP!!, BACKUP!!!" & DBLSPACE & _
"Also, remember that the password " & _
"was put there for a reason. Don't " & _
"stuff up crucial formulas or data." & _
DBLSPACE & "Access and use of some data may" & _
"be an offence. If in doubt, don't."
With ActiveWorkbook
WinTag = .ProtectStructure Or .ProtectWindows
End With
ShTag = False
For Each w1 In Worksheets
ShTag = ShTag Or w1.ProtectContents
Next w1
If Not ShTag And Not WinTag Then
Mess = "There were no passwords on sheets, or workbook " & _
"structure or windows." & Authors & Version
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
Exit Sub
End If
Mess = "After pressing OK button this will take some time." & _
DBLSPACE & "Amount of time depends on how " & _
"many different passwords, the passwords, and" & _
"your computer's specification." & DBLSPACE & _
"Just be patient! Make me a coffee!" & _
Authors & Version
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
If Not WinTag Then
Mess = "There was no protection to workbook structure " & _
"or windows." & DBLSPACE & _
"Proceeding to unprotect sheets." & _
Authors & Version
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
Else
On Error Resume Next
Do 'dummy do loop
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
With ActiveWorkbook
.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & _
Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If .ProtectStructure = False And _
.ProtectWindows = False Then
PWord1 = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & Chr(l) & _
Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Mess = "You had a Worksheet Structure or " & _
"Windows Password set." & DBLSPACE & _
"The password found was: " & DBLSPACE & _
PWord1 & DBLSPACE & "Note it down for " & _
"potential future use in other " & _
"workbooks by same person who set this " & _
"password." & DBLSPACE & _
"Now to check and clear other passwords." & _
Authors & Version
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
Exit Do 'Bypass all for...nexts
End If
End With
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Loop Until True
On Error GoTo 0
End If
If WinTag And Not ShTag Then
Mess = "Only structure / windows protected with " & _
"the password that was just found." & _
AllClear & Authors & Version & RepBack
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
Exit Sub
End If
On Error Resume Next
For Each w1 In Worksheets
'Attempt clearance with PWord1
w1.Unprotect PWord1
Next w1
On Error GoTo 0
ShTag = False
For Each w1 In Worksheets
'Checks for all clear ShTag triggered to 1 if not.
ShTag = ShTag Or w1.ProtectContents
Next w1
If Not ShTag Then
Mess = AllClear & Authors & Version & RepBack
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
Exit Sub
End If
For Each w1 In Worksheets
With w1
If .ProtectContents Then
On Error Resume Next
Do 'Dummy do loop
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If Not .ProtectContents Then
PWord1 = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & Chr(l) & _
Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Mess = "You had a Worksheet password set." & _
DBLSPACE & "The password found was: " & _
DBLSPACE & PWord1 & DBLSPACE & _
"Note it down for potential future use " & _
"in other workbooks by same person who " & _
"set this password." & DBLSPACE & _
"Now to check and clear other passwords." & _
Authors & Version
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
'leverage finding Pword by trying on other sheets
For Each w2 In Worksheets
w2.Unprotect PWord1
Next w2
Exit Do 'Bypass all for...nexts
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Loop Until True
On Error GoTo 0
End If
End With
Next w1
Mess = AllClear & Authors & Version & RepBack
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
End Sub

--
Paul B
Always backup your data before trying something new
Please post any response to the newsgroups so others can benefit from it
Feedback on answers is always appreciated!
Using Excel 97 & 2000
** remove news from my email address to reply by email **
 

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