Lock-UnLock VBAProjects Programmatically without SendKeys

Jaafar Tribak

Well-known Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2002
Messages
9,846
Office Version
  1. 2016
Platform
  1. Windows
Hi all,

I Have recently written this piece of code so I just thought I would post it here for future reference should anyone be looking for vba code to lock\unlock a vbaproject programmatically without needing to use the unreliable SendKeys method.

workbook example

This code requires that the excel macro security setting "Trust access to the vba project object model" be checked... .Also, it is worth mentioning that this code is language-specific as it reads the VBE dialog captions. So this code won't work in Non-English editions of excel but, should be easy to adapt with some small changes.

The code was written and tested in excel 2016-64bit.

Code goes in a Standard Module:
VBA Code:
Option Explicit

#If VBA7 Then
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function SetWindowsHookEx Lib "user32" Alias "SetWindowsHookExA" (ByVal idHook As Long, ByVal lpfn As LongPtr, ByVal hmod As LongPtr, ByVal dwThreadId As Long) As LongPtr
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function UnhookWindowsHookEx Lib "user32" (ByVal hhk As LongPtr) As Long
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function CallNextHookEx Lib "user32" (ByVal hHook As LongPtr, ByVal nCode As Long, ByVal wParam As LongPtr, lParam As Any) As LongPtr
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function GetCurrentThreadId Lib "kernel32" () As Long
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function GetDlgItem Lib "user32" (ByVal hDlg As LongPtr, ByVal nIDDlgItem As Long) As LongPtr
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function GetActiveWindow Lib "user32" () As LongPtr
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function GetClassName Lib "user32" Alias "GetClassNameA" (ByVal hwnd As LongPtr, ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal nMaxCount As Long) As Long
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function GetWindowText Lib "user32" Alias "GetWindowTextA" (ByVal hwnd As LongPtr, ByVal lpString As String, ByVal cch As Long) As Long
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function GetNextWindow Lib "user32" Alias "GetWindow" (ByVal hwnd As LongPtr, ByVal wFlag As Long) As LongPtr
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function FindWindowEx Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowExA" (ByVal hWnd1 As LongPtr, ByVal hwnd2 As LongPtr, ByVal lpsz1 As String, ByVal lpsz2 As String) As LongPtr
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As LongPtr, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As LongPtr, ByVal lParam As String) As LongPtr
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function SetFocus Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As LongPtr) As LongPtr
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function SetTimer Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As LongPtr, ByVal nIDEvent As LongPtr, ByVal uElapse As Long, ByVal lpTimerFunc As LongPtr) As LongPtr
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function KillTimer Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As LongPtr, ByVal nIDEvent As LongPtr) As Long
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function SetWindowPos Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As LongPtr, ByVal hWndInsertAfter As LongPtr, ByVal X As Long, ByVal Y As Long, ByVal cx As Long, ByVal cy As Long, ByVal wFlags As Long) As Long
    Private Declare PtrSafe Function SetActiveWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As LongPtr) As LongPtr
    
    Private lHook As LongPtr
#Else
    
    Private Declare Function SetWindowsHookEx Lib "user32" Alias "SetWindowsHookExA" (ByVal idHook As Long, ByVal lpfn As Long, ByVal hmod As Long, ByVal dwThreadId As Long) As Long
    Private Declare Function UnhookWindowsHookEx Lib "user32" (ByVal hhk As Long) As Long
    Private Declare Function CallNextHookEx Lib "user32" (ByVal hHook As Long, ByVal nCode As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, lParam As Any) As Long
    Private Declare Function GetCurrentThreadId Lib "kernel32" () As Long
    Private Declare Function GetDlgItem Lib "user32" (ByVal hDlg As Long, ByVal nIDDlgItem As Long) As Long
    Private Declare Function GetActiveWindow Lib "user32" () As Long
    Private Declare Function GetClassName Lib "user32" Alias "GetClassNameA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal nMaxCount As Long) As Long
    Private Declare Function GetWindowText Lib "user32" Alias "GetWindowTextA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpString As String, ByVal cch As Long) As Long
    Private Declare Function GetNextWindow Lib "user32" Alias "GetWindow" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wFlag As Long) As Long
    Private Declare Function FindWindowEx Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowExA" (ByVal hWnd1 As Long, ByVal hwnd2 As Long, ByVal lpsz1 As String, ByVal lpsz2 As String) As Long
    Private Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As String) As Long
    Private Declare Function SetFocus Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long) As Long
    Private Declare Function SetTimer Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nIDEvent As Long, ByVal uElapse As Long, ByVal lpTimerFunc As Long) As Long
    Private Declare Function KillTimer Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nIDEvent As Long) As Long
    Private Declare Function SetWindowPos Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal hWndInsertAfter As Long, ByVal X As Long, ByVal Y As Long, ByVal cx As Long, ByVal cy As Long, ByVal wFlags As Long) As Long
    Private Declare Function SetActiveWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long) As Long
    
    Private lHook As Long
#End If

Private sWinClassName As String, sWorkbookName As String, sPassword As String



Public Property Let LockVBProject(ByVal WorkbookName As String, ByVal Password As String, ByVal bLock As Boolean)

    #If VBA7 Then
        Dim hwnd As LongPtr
    #Else
        Dim hwnd As Long
    #End If
    
    Const WH_CBT = 5

    On Error GoTo errHandler

    hwnd = GetActiveWindow
    
    With Application.VBE
        Set .ActiveVBProject = Application.Workbooks(WorkbookName).VBProject
        If bLock Then
            If .ActiveVBProject.Protection = 0 Then
                sWinClassName = "VBAProject - Project Properties"
                sWorkbookName = WorkbookName
            Else
                MsgBox "VBProect already locked": Exit Property
            End If
        Else
            If .ActiveVBProject.Protection Then
                sWinClassName = "VBAProject Password"
            Else
                MsgBox "VBProect already unlocked": Exit Property
            End If
        End If
    End With
    
    sPassword = Password
    lHook = SetWindowsHookEx(WH_CBT, AddressOf Catch_DlgBox_Activation, 0, GetCurrentThreadId)
    Application.VBE.CommandBars(1).FindControl(ID:=2578, recursive:=True).Execute
    
    If hwnd = Application.hwnd Then
        SetActiveWindow Application.hwnd
    End If
    
Exit Property

errHandler:
    Call UnHook
    MsgBox "Runtime Error : " & Err.Number & vbCr & vbCr & Err.Description, vbExclamation
    
End Property



#If VBA7 Then
    Private Function Catch_DlgBox_Activation(ByVal idHook As Long, ByVal wParam As LongPtr, ByVal lParam As LongPtr) As LongPtr
        Dim hwnd As LongPtr
#Else
    Private Function Catch_DlgBox_Activation(ByVal idHook As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As Long) As Long
        Dim hwnd As Long
#End If

    Const HCBT_ACTIVATE = 5
    Const SWP_HIDEWINDOW = &H80

    Dim sBuff As String * 256, lRet As Long
    
    If idHook = HCBT_ACTIVATE Then
    lRet = GetClassName(wParam, sBuff, 256)
    If Left(sBuff, lRet) = "#32770" Then
        sBuff = ""
        lRet = GetWindowText(wParam, sBuff, 256)
        If Left(sBuff, lRet) = sWinClassName Then
            Call UnHook
            SetWindowPos wParam, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_HIDEWINDOW
            Call SetTimer(Application.hwnd, wParam, 0, AddressOf Protect_UnProtect_Routine)
        End If
    End If
    End If
    
    Catch_DlgBox_Activation = CallNextHookEx(lHook, idHook, ByVal wParam, ByVal lParam)
 
End Function


Private Sub UnHook()
    UnhookWindowsHookEx lHook
End Sub


#If VBA7 Then
Private Sub Protect_UnProtect_Routine(ByVal hwnd As LongPtr, ByVal uMsg As Long, ByVal nIDEvent As LongPtr, ByVal dwTimer As Long)
    Dim hCurrentDlg As LongPtr, hwndSysTab As LongPtr
#Else
Private Sub Protect_UnProtect_Routine(ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal uMsg As Long, ByVal nIDEvent As Long, ByVal dwTimer As Long)
    Dim hCurrentDlg As Long, hwndSysTab As Long
#End If

    Const TCM_FIRST = &H1300
    Const TCM_SETCURSEL = (TCM_FIRST + 12)
    Const TCM_SETCURFOCUS = (TCM_FIRST + 48)
    Const EM_SETMODIFY = &HB9
    Const BM_SETCHECK = &HF1
    Const BST_CHECKED = &H1
    Const BM_GETCHECK = &HF0
    Const BM_CLICK = &HF5
    Const WM_SETTEXT = &HC
    Const WH_CBT = 5
    Const GW_CHILD = 5
    
    On Error GoTo errHandler
    
    Call KillTimer(Application.hwnd, nIDEvent)
    
    hCurrentDlg = nIDEvent
    
    If sWinClassName = "VBAProject - Project Properties" Then
    
        hwndSysTab = FindWindowEx(hCurrentDlg, 0, "SysTabControl32", vbNullString)
        Call SendMessage(hwndSysTab, TCM_SETCURFOCUS, 1, 0)
        Call SendMessage(hwndSysTab, TCM_SETCURSEL, 1, 0)
        
        If SendMessage(GetDlgItem(GetNextWindow(hCurrentDlg, GW_CHILD), &H1557), BM_GETCHECK, 0, 0) = 0 Then
            Call SendMessage(GetDlgItem(GetNextWindow(hCurrentDlg, GW_CHILD), &H1557), BM_SETCHECK, BST_CHECKED, 0)
            Call SendMessage(GetDlgItem(GetNextWindow(hCurrentDlg, GW_CHILD), &H1555), WM_SETTEXT, 0, sPassword)
            Call SendMessage(GetDlgItem(GetNextWindow(hCurrentDlg, GW_CHILD), &H1555), EM_SETMODIFY, True, 0)
            Call SendMessage(GetDlgItem(GetNextWindow(hCurrentDlg, GW_CHILD), &H1556), WM_SETTEXT, 0, sPassword)
            Call SendMessage(GetDlgItem(GetNextWindow(hCurrentDlg, GW_CHILD), &H1556), EM_SETMODIFY, True, 0)
        End If
        
        Call SendMessage(GetDlgItem(hCurrentDlg, &H1), BM_CLICK, 0, 0)
        Call Application.OnTime(Now, "SaveVBProjectChanges")
        
    ElseIf sWinClassName = "VBAProject Password" Then
    
        Call SendMessage(GetDlgItem(hCurrentDlg, &H155E), WM_SETTEXT, 0, sPassword)
        Call SendMessage(GetDlgItem(hCurrentDlg, &H155E), EM_SETMODIFY, True, 0)
        lHook = SetWindowsHookEx(WH_CBT, AddressOf Catch_DlgBox_Creation, 0, GetCurrentThreadId)
        Call SendMessage(GetDlgItem(hCurrentDlg, &H1), BM_CLICK, 0, 0)
        Call Application.OnTime(Now, "UnHook")
        
    End If
    
    Exit Sub
    
errHandler:
    Call UnHook
    MsgBox "Runtime Error : " & Err.Number & vbCr & vbCr & Err.Description, vbExclamation


End Sub


#If VBA7 Then
    Private Function Catch_DlgBox_Creation(ByVal idHook As Long, ByVal wParam As LongPtr, ByVal lParam As LongPtr) As LongPtr
#Else
    Private Function Catch_DlgBox_Creation(ByVal idHook As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As Long) As Long
#End If

    Const HCBT_CREATEWND = 3
    Dim sBuff As String * 256, lRet As Long
    
    If idHook = HCBT_CREATEWND Then
        lRet = GetClassName(wParam, sBuff, 256)
        If Left(sBuff, lRet) = "#32770" Then
            Catch_DlgBox_Creation = -1
            Exit Function
        End If
    End If
    
    Catch_DlgBox_Creation = CallNextHookEx(lHook, idHook, ByVal wParam, ByVal lParam)

End Function

Private Sub SaveVBProjectChanges()
    On Error Resume Next
    Application.EnableEvents = False
        Workbooks(sWorkbookName).Save
    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub



Code usage examples :
VBA Code:
Sub Lock_Example()

    'To lock the vbproject. (change workbook name as required)
        LockVBProject(WorkbookName:="MyTestBook.xls", Password:="1234") = True

End Sub


VBA Code:
Sub UnLock_Example()

    'To un-lock the vbproject. (change workbook name as required)
        LockVBProject(WorkbookName:="MyTestBook.xls", Password:="1234") = False

End Sub
 

Hi Jaafar :love:
First of all, thank you for your answer and my whole gratitude for the update of your solution...
For the lovers of Chopin’s nocturnes, I can humbly suggest the following code that does not tickle your speakers.
I turn off the beep just 1 second, but not the sound.
And it works too if you listen Snoop Dogg...
For the rest, dear members, try for yourselves IoI
With passion !
Pierre ;)
PS: I promise AI can't do that !
VBA Code:
'
'enable/disable specific windows sounds system
'

Option Explicit

'---constants and types for access to the register
Private Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER As Long = &H80000001
Private Const KEY_SET_VALUE As Long = &H20006
Private Const KEY_QUERY_VALUE As Long = &H1
Private Const REG_SZ As Long = 1
Private Const ERROR_SUCCESS As Long = 0

#If VBA7 Then
'---64 bits
Private Declare PtrSafe Function RegOpenKeyEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegOpenKeyExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpSubKey As String, ByVal ulOptions As Long, ByVal samDesired As Long, phkResult As Long) As Long
Private Declare PtrSafe Function RegQueryValueEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegQueryValueExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String, ByVal lpReserved As Long, lpType As Long, ByVal lpData As String, lpcbData As Long) As Long
Private Declare PtrSafe Function RegSetValueEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegSetValueExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String, ByVal Reserved As Long, ByVal dwType As Long, ByVal lpData As String, ByVal cbData As Long) As Long
Private Declare PtrSafe Function RegCloseKey Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal hKey As Long) As Long
#Else
'---32 bits
Private Declare Function RegOpenKeyEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegOpenKeyExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpSubKey As String, ByVal ulOptions As Long, ByVal samDesired As Long, phkResult As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RegQueryValueEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegQueryValueExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String, ByVal lpReserved As Long, lpType As Long, ByVal lpData As String, lpcbData As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RegSetValueEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegSetValueExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String, ByVal Reserved As Long, ByVal dwType As Long, ByVal lpData As String, ByVal cbData As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RegCloseKey Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal hKey As Long) As Long
#End If

Sub test_regkey_sound_enable()
'
'Silence is golden IoI
'

Const key_names_serial As String = ".Default;SystemHand;SystemExclamation"
    
    Call regkey_sound_disable(key_names_serial)
    '
    'here magical vba project unlock by Jaafar
    '
    sleep_s 1
    Call regkey_sound_enable(key_names_serial)
End Sub

Function regkey_sound_enable(key_names_serial As String) As Boolean
'
'refresh the current keys value by their default value
'

Dim hkey_def As Long
Dim hkey_cur As Long
Dim resu_tem As Long
Dim deft_val As String
Dim buff_siz As Long
Dim succ_sta As Boolean
'
Dim key_names() As String
Dim key_name As String
Dim i As Integer

'---split
    key_names = Split(key_names_serial, ";")
    
    For i = LBound(key_names) To UBound(key_names)
'---extract the keyname
    key_name = key_names(i)
 
    succ_sta = False
        
'---open the .Default key
    resu_tem = RegOpenKeyEx(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default\" & key_name & "\.Default", 0, KEY_QUERY_VALUE, hkey_def)
    If resu_tem <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
    Debug.Print "Error when opening the key .Default for " & key_name
    regkey_sound_enable = False
    Exit Function
    End If
        
'---read the .Default key
    buff_siz = 255
    deft_val = String(buff_siz, vbNullChar)
    resu_tem = RegQueryValueEx(hkey_def, "", 0, REG_SZ, deft_val, buff_siz)
    If resu_tem = ERROR_SUCCESS Then
    deft_val = Left(deft_val, InStr(deft_val, vbNullChar) - 1)
    Else
    Debug.Print "Error while reading the value of .Default for " & key_name
    RegCloseKey hkey_def
    regkey_sound_enable = False
    Exit Function
    End If
'---close the .Default key
    RegCloseKey (hkey_def)

'---open the .Current key
    resu_tem = RegOpenKeyEx(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default\" & key_name & "\.Current", 0, KEY_SET_VALUE, hkey_cur)
    If resu_tem <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
    Debug.Print "Error when opening the key .Current for " & key_name
    regkey_sound_enable = False
    Exit Function
    End If
    
'---write the .Current value by .Default value
    resu_tem = RegSetValueEx(hkey_cur, "", 0, REG_SZ, deft_val, Len(deft_val) + 1)
    If resu_tem = ERROR_SUCCESS Then
    succ_sta = True
    Else
    Debug.Print "Error while updating .Current with the value of . Default for " & key_name
    regkey_sound_enable = False
    End If
'---close the .Current key
    RegCloseKey hkey_cur
    Next i
    
'---confirm
    regkey_sound_enable = succ_sta
End Function

Function regkey_sound_disable(key_names_serial As String) As Boolean
'
'clear the current keys value
'

Dim hkey_def As Long
Dim hkey_cur As Long
Dim resu_tem As Long
Dim deft_val As String
Dim buff_siz As Long
Dim succ_sta As Boolean
'
Dim key_names() As String
Dim key_name As String
Dim i As Integer

'---split
    key_names = Split(key_names_serial, ";")
    
    For i = LBound(key_names) To UBound(key_names)
'---extract the keyname
    key_name = key_names(i)
 
    succ_sta = False

'---open the .Current key
    resu_tem = RegOpenKeyEx(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default\" & key_name & "\.Current", 0, KEY_SET_VALUE, hkey_cur)
    If resu_tem <> ERROR_SUCCESS Then
    Debug.Print "Error when opening the key .Current for " & key_name
    regkey_sound_disable = False
    Exit Function
    End If

'---clear the .Current key value
    resu_tem = RegSetValueEx(hkey_cur, "", 0, REG_SZ, "", 1)
    If resu_tem = ERROR_SUCCESS Then
    succ_sta = True
    Else
    Debug.Print "Error when the empty value is assigned to the key .Current for " & key_name
    End If
'---close the .Current key
    RegCloseKey hkey_cur
    Next i
    
'---confirm
    regkey_sound_disable = succ_sta
End Function

Sub sleep_s(Secondes As Long)
'
'timer in seconds (no api)
'

Dim timer_st As Long
Dim timer_nd As Long
    
    timer_st = Timer
    timer_nd = timer_st + Secondes
    Do Until Timer >= timer_nd
    DoEvents
    Loop
End Sub

Sub test_vbExclamation_nosound()
'
'
'
Const key_names_serial As String = ".Default;SystemHand;SystemExclamation"
    
    Call regkey_sound_disable(key_names_serial)
    '
    MsgBox "Message box", vbExclamation
    '
'    sleep_s 1
    Call regkey_sound_enable(key_names_serial)
End Sub

Sub test_vbExclamation_sound()
'
'
'
    MsgBox "Message box", vbExclamation
End Sub
 
Upvote 0

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If your data has zip codes, postal codes, or city names, select the data and use Insert, 3D Map. (Found to right of chart icons).
Agreed. AI won't do that
 
Upvote 0

@pmajax
Thanks for the code.

It is nice to be able shut the system sound up without sacrificing the rest of the sound sessions.;) :)

I personally always stay away from meddling with the user's registry as there is always the risk of not restoring the defaults, furthemore, the relevant reg keys are not always guaranteed to be in the same path.

But I want to thank you because this has spurked me to further explore the issue of not being able to easily control the system sound selectively via code and I am glad I have come up with the following new solution which is entirely based on the core audio modern interfaces (no messing with user registry or settings) :

Take a look here :
 
Upvote 0
Hi Jaafar :love:
It's a great pleasure to read you and a great honor to receive your thanks !
My approach is that of resourcefulness, yours is academic and what I like is when the two come together to give the best of the untiring effervescence of our brains !
Of course it's cleaner not to touch the registry keys.
A thousand thanks for your innovative solution.
I will come back to you, I'm closing the work of a life, this should also make many forums happy... and I hope that a single life will allow me to finish on time !
Respect, You're a king (y)
Pierre;)
 
Upvote 0
If you try to unlock the project with an incorrect password, it hangs. anyway to fix this?
btw this code is brilliant
 
Upvote 0
can you post the code that you are using. I am using 64 bit excel
Try the latest code in Post#25 ... I also linked a workbook demo there which you can download.

EDIT:
Please, note that I have just commented out the following line at the start of the LockVBProject Property which is located in the bas_API module, because it was wrong.
VBA Code:
'If bHooked Then Exit Property
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

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