unable to unprotect my protected excel file

[Bernard Goh]

Hi all,

I have this excel files protected by password and I need to unprotect it so
I go to Tools -> Protection -> Unprotect Sheet to unprotect my worksheet.
The password was right and the process went on correctly without any error
or problem.

but the next time I open the same file again, I was prompted to key in
password again. and I had to use the same password to go in.

When I check on the Tools -> Protection. The unprotect sheet change to
Protect sheet. which means by right it should be an unprotected file. but
why I was prompt for password ?

I suspected it is due to corrupted file content. but how to fix it ? or it
is something else.

Any help is very much appreciated.

Thanks and Regards,

Bernard Goh
Success Electronics & Transformer Manufacturer Sdn Bhd

 

[Dave Peterson]

Excel offers a few different types of protection.

#1. Tools|Protection|Protect sheet
This will keep locked cells on a protected sheet safer. (This protection is
easily broken.)

#2 Tools|Protection|protect workbook
This is used mostly to protect the structure of the workbook--no
inserting/deleting/moving of sheets will be allowed. You can also protect the
window layout (not often used (well, by me)) to protect how the windows are
arranged for that workbook. (This protection, too, is also easily broken.)

#3. VBAProject protection that is used to protect your code and access to your
project.

#4. There's the file|open protection where you provide a password to open the
file. (file|SaveAs|tools|General Options|Password to open. Harder to break,
but there
is software available commercially to break this.

Each of these is separate and distinct from the others.

My bet is that the worksheet was originally protected (#1) and you unprotected
it. But at the same time, the workbook was protected (#4) and you didn't change
that.