Help with securing a workbook

[Dan Wilson]

Good day all. With the help of many of you on the Forum, I have been able to create a workbook that tracks the activates of my motorcycle club. In addition to the tracking worksheets, there are computations creating totals and percentages of activities. I am now ready to make this workbook available to others. Before I do that I need a little bit more help from the Forum. Each of the worksheets has cells that are shaded to indicate user data input. The other cells are all formulas. I want first of all, to protect the workbook so that no-one can see or change any of the formulas. I expect that to do that, there will need to be a password which I will maintain. I also expect that a Copyright will need to be established for the workbook. I intend to create a customized workbook on my computer, then install it on the remote site and teach the user how to use it. Once the workbook is working, I will make any necessary changes or repairs using a remote access program that will allow me to manipulate the users' computer from my desktop at home. I realize there are many articles pertaining to hidden cells and worksheet protection. Please indicate some of the most informative ones. I want to protect my work from vandalism and theft. It has taken the better part of 2 years to get this working error-free. I appreciate any help given.
Thank you,
Dan Wilson...

 

[6StringJazzer]

Dan,

Good luck with your project. For what you describe, you will want to set any cells for user input to Unlocked. Select the cells, then Format, then click Locked so the lock icon is not highlighted.

Then go to Review, Protect Sheet and uncheck Select Locked Cells. This will prevent someone from viewing your formulas. Provide a password, as you mention.

Here is the problem. Excel's built-in security mechanisms are weak. Formulas that are locked using the above technique can still be viewed by using VBA by anyone who can open your file. I do not know any way this can be prevented, because you can use VBA in a different file to open your file and read the formulas, even it is protected as described. Also passwords are not hard to break by someone with the motivation. So even if you do the above, do not assume you have iron-clad security.

Copyright is a legal issue, not an technical one. You might need a lawyer, especially since you seem to be describing a business model. You need to consider whether you want a copyright or a patent. If a copyright is applicable to an Excel file (I don't know if it is) then you are automatically granted a copyright upon its creation. However, if you do not actually register the copyright with the government, you would be limited in being able to collect damages from someone who violates your copyright. IANAL, see a lawyer for better advice.