Unprotect Worksheet

[Jethro Pull]

Well, I got myself into a jam ... working with a nine sheet workbook and
for some stupid reason I password protected one of the sheets and can't
remember it.

Any ideas?

TIA.

 

[Jethro Pull]

The silence on this one is deafening ... You can hear a pin drop.

I finally got the pwd straight and am now back in business. Lesson
learned: No more pwd's when protecting unless they are going somewhere
where you have no control..

 

[Don Guillett]

The reason for that is that we hear that story many times when someone is
trying to crack someone else's file and most of us are reluctant to assist
in an illegal endeavor. I have always offered to crack it IF you can prove
to me that you were authorized to have the password.

 

[Marty]

The reason for that is that we hear that story many times when someone
is trying to crack someone else's file and most of us are reluctant to
assist in an illegal endeavor. I have always offered to crack it IF you
can prove to me that you were authorized to have the password.

You are assuming it is illegal to crack *someone else's* file. Where is
the law dictating that?

 

[Otto Moehrbach]

Let's not go into that hole. Suppose we change that to "Unethical". Does
that please you? HTH Otto

 

[Marty]

Ah, yes, yet's discuss the subject of ethics. That's even a deeper hole .

But, yes, I agree with you. It's more likely to be a question of ethics
rather than legality.

 

[Don Guillett]

"Legality is in the eye of the beholder"

 

[Jethro Pull]

Of course, I understand ... but the great wall of silence said to me that

1. It was impossible to crack a passworded Excel sheet, or
2. This is a closely held MSFT secret that is not shared with mere
mortals such as me, or
3. I'm not credentialed to the folks who might/could help.

In any case, I could have tried to prove ownership if only I had known
Don Guillett, Microsoft MVP Excel, SalesAid Software, needed that
assurance. I'm pretty good as responding to calls for help and
clarification from my clients.. Irregardless (I know there's no such
word, but it works for me), the problem is solved and I'm a happy camper.

BTW FWIW, I think it's an ethical issue. Our local police haven't yet
received the MSFT addendum to our local laws, so it couldn't, as yet, be
a legal issue. Moreover, our local D.A. is the proud owner of a Radio
Shack 'puter which he uses to play "Pong".

 

[Otto Moehrbach]

Well put. Otto

Of course, I understand ... but the great wall of silence said to me that

1. It was impossible to crack a passworded Excel sheet, or
2. This is a closely held MSFT secret that is not shared with mere
mortals such as me, or
3. I'm not credentialed to the folks who might/could help.

In any case, I could have tried to prove ownership if only I had known Don
Guillett, Microsoft MVP Excel, SalesAid Software, needed that assurance.
I'm pretty good as responding to calls for help and clarification from my
clients.. Irregardless (I know there's no such word, but it works for me),
the problem is solved and I'm a happy camper.

BTW FWIW, I think it's an ethical issue. Our local police haven't yet
received the MSFT addendum to our local laws, so it couldn't, as yet, be a
legal issue. Moreover, our local D.A. is the proud owner of a Radio Shack
'puter which he uses to play "Pong".

 

[Marty]

Unprotecting is as simple as using a macro that you can find here:
http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/removepwords.html

The issue of legality is really a mute point here. Since when was
providing particularly personal information a prerequisite for receiving
help from MVPs?

For all we know, people seeking assistance here may be using Excel for
any kind of illegal endeavor; they may be a member of the Taliban, they
may be using a pirated copy of Excel, they may be breaking copyright law
by using the spreadsheets/workbooks in a particular way, the
spreadsheets/workbooks files may be stolen, etc.

 

[Don Guillett]

I don't intend to crack a file and then be sued by the originator for doing
so. Therefore, I am cautious.

 

[Jethro Pull]

Actually, Don, I agree with you.

 

[Jethro Pull]

I took a look at that site and love the first sentence, "XL passwords
are about as useful for security as tissue paper."

 

[Marty]

The OP didn't ask anyone to crack a file, he asked for ideas.

I have seen 2-3 webites from MVPs openly providing, linking to and
promoting password recovery software and servives for Excel and indeed
making money from linked referrals.

You do have a right to be cautious though, you live in that great "free"
land where everyone's scared of one another and sues each other.

For other people that might find it useful, here's another plug-in to
"unprotect" (Microsoft I think made up this word) Excel
worksheets/workbooks:

http://www.straxx.com/excel/password.html

 

[AdamV]

In the UK it could easily be considered an offense under the computer
misuse act. To remove the password you decrypt the file, which by
definition means changing it (in RAM at least, even if not saved). If
you were authorised to see the contents you would have the password,
therefore cracking someone else's file to which they have not chosen to
give you a password would be an unauthorised access and alteration of
the data and a crime. If anyone cared.

Irregardless (me too), I share the caution here, probably worn down by
years on security-forums.com and other places where we get lots of "how
can I get into my PC when I have forgotten my password" questions which
ring very loud alarm bells.

As for not using protection, you might be interested in an article I
wrote on that very subject for Microsoft's industry insiders site (some
two and a half years ago now):
http://blogs.technet.com/industry_insiders/pages/don-t-secure-your-documents.aspx

Adam