User-Level Sharing

[Guest]

Hi everyone - very nice forum!
Is it possible to assign a set of specific parameters (either usernames or
passwords) to a specific worksheets that are within the same Excel workbook.

Basically, I would like to have User1 (with either username or password of,
say, 'pswd1') to have access to only one specific sheet in a workbook. User
with user name User2 (can be either username or login) to have access to
another sheet (other then User1) within the same workbook.

In other words:
User1 - can access only 'Sheet1' within 'Workbook0'
User2 - can access only 'Sheet2' within the same 'Workbook0'

As User1 makes changes to his 'Sheet1', he emails it to User2, who may not
see or modify content of 'Sheet1', while User2 can modify his 'Sheet2'

if this can not be done in Excel 2003, plz recommend other applications or
other ways

 

[Dave Peterson]

Not really. You could try to do this, but it won't stop anyone who actually
wants to access/update those other worksheets.

If you want to stay with excel, make separate workbooks for each user--just with
their stuff in it.

 

[Guest]

You could do this by hiding the user sheets, putting a button on sheet 1 with
instructions the when User1 clicks the button and supplies a password,
User1's sheet is displayed and similarly for User2, that sheet is displayed.

 

[Tom Ogilvy]

You can search this newgroup for code that will break that approach. If you
give a user access to a workbook, plan on them seeing everything in it.

Protecting sheets or hiding sheets is designed to help the user not make
accidental alterations to the sheet/workbook. It doesn't provide any
security.

 

[Guest]

I accept that "experts" would not have a problem overcoming any security
applied to a workbook but the average user probably would.

 

[Tom Ogilvy]

I could say this is a matter of opinion, but it really is more of a fact.
If you want to accept that risk, go ahead and believe that. I have seen an
awful lot of average users in these newsgroups ask and receive code that
will break it. I see power users/experts all over companies in jobs not
related to IT. If there is a reason to hide the information, then there is
a reason for the user to have an interest in getting access to it. Since
your offering advice to someone, you might as well present a realistic
representation of the real situation or start your post out with "once upon
a time . . ." so the original poster has an appreciation for where you are
coming from.

As a gesture of good faith, set up such a workbook with all your personal
information, credit card numbers, bank accounts and so forth, protect it as
you describe and send it to the original poster with permission to utilize
the information in any way they see fit if they can access it.

how about this pseudo code

Sub GetData()
Dim bk as workbook, ws as Worksheet
Dim sh as Worksheet
set bk = Workbooks("BigWheel.xls")
for each ws in bk.Worksheets
if ws.visible <> xlSheetvisible then
With thisworkbook.Worksheets
set sh = .Add(After:=.Worksheets(.Worksheets.count))
end with
sh.Range("A1").resize(ws.usedrange.rows.count, _
ws.usedRange.columns.count).Formula = _
"=" & ws.Cells(1,1).Address(0,0,xlA1,True)
end if
Next ws
End Sub

This is just to illustrate. Any intermediate level user could do the same
thing manually. If he knows how his/her sheet is named, he/she probably
knows how other user's sheets are named, so a little guessing and trial and
error and all is revealed.

 

[Guest]

Hi bigwheel, tom ogilvy, & dave paterson,

I would like to thank you very much for all points made about security &
being creative in overcoming shortcomings in excel features. Since my users
are not computer savy, I will try to follow bigwheels' idea.
Also, is there such feature in Access?

Again, thank you guys!

 

[Tom Ogilvy]

Does Access provide a way to secure a database - yes it does.