Working from a Protected File

[Greg]

Is a way that I can password protect a file so that no changes can be made to
the original file, but if I want to allow someone else to view that file,
they can copy the information into another file and work from that file?

Thanks for the help.
Greg

 

[Gord Dibben]

Greg

Easiest method is to save the original as a Template..........File>Save
As>File Type>MS Excel Template(*.xlt)

Now whenever that file is opened, a copy opens. The original is never
touched.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Greg]

Thanks for the response. However, this did not seem to work, I did save my
file as a template and sent it off to another person as a test. The original
file opened and not a copy. Is there something else needed?

 

[Gord Dibben]

You saved as I instructed?

The file you sent had an extension of .XLT?

How did the other person open the file?

Right-click and "Open" would open the original as filename.XLT

Double-click to open would open a copy as filemame1.XLS


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Greg]

Thanks, I think I know what happend, the original file was built and and
saved as .XLS file, when it was re-saved as .XLT, it opened as the normal
..XLS file. So, do I need to build the original file as an .XLT template
only? I can't build the file as .XLS and save later as an .XLT?

 

[Gord Dibben]

You had a regular file saved as filename.xls..........no problem

You went to File>Save As>File Type and saved as a Template(*.xlt)

When you go to File>New...and choose the filename template and click on it
you should get filename1 opening............this is an *.xls file based
upon the template

The template file itself does not open.

It remains untouched as you saved it.

That's how Templates operate.


Gord

 

[Greg]

Yes, I understand now. Thank you.

Greg

You had a regular file saved as filename.xls..........no problem

You went to File>Save As>File Type and saved as a Template(*.xlt)

When you go to File>New...and choose the filename template and click on it
you should get filename1 opening............this is an *.xls file based
upon the template

The template file itself does not open.

It remains untouched as you saved it.

That's how Templates operate.


Gord