Sorting tables on protected worksheets

[Blue Max]

How do we configure our worksheet so that we can turn protection ON, but
still enable the table filter buttons in order to sort columns in a table?

No matter what settings we select for protection, including the sort and
auto-filter options, we cannot sort tables on a protected sheet. What is
the secret to allowing table sorts on a protected sheet?

 

[Gord Dibben]

Generally one has code to unprotect, code to do the sort, then re-protect.

By "tables" do you a real Table created by Insert>Table?

I can provide code that turns off protection when you click inside a Table.

Click outside the Table and protection goes back on.

Is this something you could work with?


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[JLatham]

If Gord's suggestion and offer of assistance isn't what you need, then things
get a little flakey for you: In order to sort on a protected sheet, all of
the cells that may potentially be involved in the sort must be unlocked.
Quite often this defeats at least part of the purpose of protecting the sheet
in the first place. As Gord said, the typical way to handle this enigma is
via VBA code that unprotects the sheet, does the sort and then puts the sheet
back into protected mode.

 

[ozgrid.com]

Record a macro for your sort, then see this page;
http://www.ozgrid.com/VBA/excel-macro-protected-sheet.htm

The UserInterfaceOnly is my preference in case the Macro bugs out leaving
your Worksheet unprotected.

 

[Blue Max]

Thank you, Gord. I would be interested in a sample of the code. I have
created code before to protect and unprotect a sheet tied to a button or
cell, but haven't ever tied it to selecting a table or not. That may be a
useful approach to this problem. Nevertheless, can you answer the
following:

As I indicated in the original message, when a worksheet is protected the
user can choose options to allow auto-filtering or sorts. When these
options are chosen, why is the program not allowing the user to sort the
table using the filter buttons or a sort? One would infer from the
protection options selected that the sort would be allowed!

Thanks,

Richard

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[Gord Dibben]

I agree that the help on allowing sorting and filtering is not too detailed
and the implication is that you need only allow these options to be enabled
when protecting.

Not exactly true.

A protected sheet can be sorted or filtered but only under certain
conditions.

If the entire range to be sorted contains unlocked cells, you can sort that
range on a protected sheet.

If the Autofilter is enabled prior to protecting the sheet, autofilter can
be used.

Both options must be enabled when protecting the sheet.

Code to select a Table and unprotect the sheet.

Note that all cell protection within the Table is is removed.

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim objlist As ListObject
Set objlist = Me.ListObjects(1) 'adjust the (1) if needed
On Error GoTo ws_exit:
Application.EnableEvents = False
If Not Intersect(Target, objlist.Range) Is Nothing Then
Me.Unprotect Password:="justme"
Else
With Me
.Protect Password:="justme"
.EnableSelection = xlNoRestrictions
End With
End If
ws_exit:
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub


Gord

 

[Blue Max]

Thank you, Dave, some interesting features. I appreciate your reply and
will take a look at this option.

Thanks,

Richard

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[Blue Max]

Thank you, Gord, I appreciate the guidelines and the suggested code. Wish
the protection exceptions would have covered this case, but they apparently
do not. Oh well, perhaps in a future version.

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