Excel Structure Locked, but Can't Unlock

[ajones]

I have an Excel file with roughly 20 sheets. There is a fair amount of linking between the sheets etc. However the file is not large (less than 3 MB).

File -> Info says "The structure of the workbook has been locked to prevent unwanted changes ...."
This looks like it might be why I can't remove a Freeze Pane setting etc.

However under the Review Tab it does not show it is protected.

I am not asking to crack password just trying figure out how to remove the structure protection.

Any thoughts?

thanks

Alan

 

[mikerickson]

Have you looked to see if the workBOOK is protected or if the individual sheets are protected.

 

[ajones]

The workbook seems to NOT be protected, just acting like it.

All the individual worksheets are unprotected. Even used an Excel add-on do an "unprotect" all sheets. Just in case.

My issue seems to match this thread with no good solution.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...-it/e8cf6c02-b23c-4ccc-a672-e3c4bc33e9f5?db=5

 

[mikerickson]

If you are seeing that screen that is shown in that thread, then it means that your workbook is NOT protected.
That dialog is not seeking to unprotect a workbook, it is asking for specifications before protecting it.

If you are seeing a different screen, then I don't know how to help.

 

[ajones]

Mikerickson,

I have a freeze pane setting that is "stuck" and can't be removed. In some reading that was the idea. I even tried changing the view mode to page layout that is an alternate way to remove the freeze pane but that mode won't "take". So again the only idea was the structure was "locked". So something is confused or corrupted. I know i could revert to an older version but would love to try and figure out the situation.

thanks

Alan

 

[mikerickson]

Add a new worksheet to the workbook.
Select all the cells in the trouble worksheet.
Copy
Paste that into the new worksheet.
The new worksheet is un-frozen and has the same data as the problem sheet.

 

[mikerickson]

Correction. If you Cut and Paste instead of Copy/Paste, other formula's reference to those cells should follow when you move them.