password issues in Excel 2002

I am trying to help a friend with an Excel project. She is a teacher. We
are using Excel 2002.



She would like to have 30 files for 30 people on a network drive everyone
can access Each of the 30 files would be password protected. (Save As,
Tools, General Options). Each person could access her own file but no one
else's.



She would like me to create a Grand Total sheet that would take data from
each of the 30 files and link the data to show the overall totals. Everyone
could see the totals, but they could not see the individual scores each
teacher had.



I can do all of the above. The problem is that when you open the Grand
Total file which is not password protected, you are told that the links must
be updated. If you click to update, you are then prompted for all the
passwords. This is too much work for each person to do, plus it gives them
passwords to get into the 30 files so there goes your security.



I guess I am asking two contradictory things from Excel. First, I am saying
I want to password protect some data in the 30 files. But then I want Excel
to make the data available in the Grand Total sheet for anyone to see.



Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could set up Excel to achieve my
goals? Or am I asking the impossible?



TIA

I think you're asking the impossible if you just work with passwords.

You could save the workbooks with the
file|saveas|tools|general options|"password to modify" set

You won't be prompted for a password for your links. But anyone could open that
workbook and see all the data (in readonly mode, though).

In fact, if you could see the links you wanted (without a password), then anyone
could build their own link and point at any/all cells and see everything.

One option would be to have a workbook that knows all the filenames and
passwords and opens each and copies the relevant information from each and
creates a new workbook (without the links--just the values) that any one could
access.

I think if I were doing this, I wouldn't take a chance that someone could break
into my workbook and see all the filenames/passwords.

I think I'd run that on demand (whenever I had to).

===
Another option. You update that summary workbook. Open all the files, have the
links update, and save it with the current values.

Tell the other users that they should not update links when they open that
summary workbook.

But you'd want to open the 30 workbooks before you open the summary workbook
(with links). Then you could avoid all the prompts.

saved from a previous post:

Maybe you could create a macro that would open all those workbooks first.

Your macro would supply both the workbook's name and password.

Then after all these workbooks are open, you could open the file that contains
the links.

Kind of like:

option explict
sub auto_open()
dim wkbk1 as workbook
dim wkbk2 as workbook
dim wkbk3 as workbook

set wkbk1 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\a.xls",password:="one")
set wkbk2 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\b.xls",password:="two")
set wkbk3 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\c.xls",password:="three")

'wkbk3 is the real one!

wkbk1.close savechanges:=false
wkbk2.close savechanges:=false
'thisworkbook.close savechanges:=false
end sub

(I'd create a 4th workbook that opens the files in order and just closes the
first 2 and then itself.)



Stephen Larivee wrote:
>
> I am trying to help a friend with an Excel project. She is a teacher. We
> are using Excel 2002.
>
> She would like to have 30 files for 30 people on a network drive everyone
> can access Each of the 30 files would be password protected. (Save As,
> Tools, General Options). Each person could access her own file but no one
> else's.
>
> She would like me to create a Grand Total sheet that would take data from
> each of the 30 files and link the data to show the overall totals. Everyone
> could see the totals, but they could not see the individual scores each
> teacher had.
>
> I can do all of the above. The problem is that when you open the Grand
> Total file which is not password protected, you are told that the links must
> be updated. If you click to update, you are then prompted for all the
> passwords. This is too much work for each person to do, plus it gives them
> passwords to get into the 30 files so there goes your security.
>
> I guess I am asking two contradictory things from Excel. First, I am saying
> I want to password protect some data in the 30 files. But then I want Excel
> to make the data available in the Grand Total sheet for anyone to see.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could set up Excel to achieve my
> goals? Or am I asking the impossible?
>
> TIA

--

Dave Peterson

Thank you. I will have to rethink this.

Thanks again.



"Dave Peterson" <ec35720@netscapeXSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:421553DF.F9ED840A@netscapeXSPAM.com...
>I think you're asking the impossible if you just work with passwords.
>
> You could save the workbooks with the
> file|saveas|tools|general options|"password to modify" set
>
> You won't be prompted for a password for your links. But anyone could
> open that
> workbook and see all the data (in readonly mode, though).
>
> In fact, if you could see the links you wanted (without a password), then
> anyone
> could build their own link and point at any/all cells and see everything.
>
> One option would be to have a workbook that knows all the filenames and
> passwords and opens each and copies the relevant information from each and
> creates a new workbook (without the links--just the values) that any one
> could
> access.
>
> I think if I were doing this, I wouldn't take a chance that someone could
> break
> into my workbook and see all the filenames/passwords.
>
> I think I'd run that on demand (whenever I had to).
>
> ===
> Another option. You update that summary workbook. Open all the files,
> have the
> links update, and save it with the current values.
>
> Tell the other users that they should not update links when they open that
> summary workbook.
>
> But you'd want to open the 30 workbooks before you open the summary
> workbook
> (with links). Then you could avoid all the prompts.
>
> saved from a previous post:
>
> Maybe you could create a macro that would open all those workbooks first.
>
> Your macro would supply both the workbook's name and password.
>
> Then after all these workbooks are open, you could open the file that
> contains
> the links.
>
> Kind of like:
>
> option explict
> sub auto_open()
> dim wkbk1 as workbook
> dim wkbk2 as workbook
> dim wkbk3 as workbook
>
> set wkbk1 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\a.xls",password:="one")
> set wkbk2 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\b.xls",password:="two")
> set wkbk3 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\c.xls",password:="three")
>
> 'wkbk3 is the real one!
>
> wkbk1.close savechanges:=false
> wkbk2.close savechanges:=false
> 'thisworkbook.close savechanges:=false
> end sub
>
> (I'd create a 4th workbook that opens the files in order and just closes
> the
> first 2 and then itself.)
>
>
>
> Stephen Larivee wrote:
>>
>> I am trying to help a friend with an Excel project. She is a teacher.
>> We
>> are using Excel 2002.
>>
>> She would like to have 30 files for 30 people on a network drive everyone
>> can access Each of the 30 files would be password protected. (Save As,
>> Tools, General Options). Each person could access her own file but no
>> one
>> else's.
>>
>> She would like me to create a Grand Total sheet that would take data from
>> each of the 30 files and link the data to show the overall totals.
>> Everyone
>> could see the totals, but they could not see the individual scores each
>> teacher had.
>>
>> I can do all of the above. The problem is that when you open the Grand
>> Total file which is not password protected, you are told that the links
>> must
>> be updated. If you click to update, you are then prompted for all the
>> passwords. This is too much work for each person to do, plus it gives
>> them
>> passwords to get into the 30 files so there goes your security.
>>
>> I guess I am asking two contradictory things from Excel. First, I am
>> saying
>> I want to password protect some data in the 30 files. But then I want
>> Excel
>> to make the data available in the Grand Total sheet for anyone to see.
>>
>> Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could set up Excel to achieve
>> my
>> goals? Or am I asking the impossible?
>>
>> TIA
>
> --
>
> Dave Peterson

Hi Stephan

How about breaking the password for all the 30 files??? Let me know if you
are interested and mail me personally.

Bye and Take Care!!

"Stephen Larivee" wrote:

> Thank you. I will have to rethink this.
>
> Thanks again.
>
>
>
> "Dave Peterson" <ec35720@netscapeXSPAM.com> wrote in message
> news:421553DF.F9ED840A@netscapeXSPAM.com...
> >I think you're asking the impossible if you just work with passwords.
> >
> > You could save the workbooks with the
> > file|saveas|tools|general options|"password to modify" set
> >
> > You won't be prompted for a password for your links. But anyone could
> > open that
> > workbook and see all the data (in readonly mode, though).
> >
> > In fact, if you could see the links you wanted (without a password), then
> > anyone
> > could build their own link and point at any/all cells and see everything.
> >
> > One option would be to have a workbook that knows all the filenames and
> > passwords and opens each and copies the relevant information from each and
> > creates a new workbook (without the links--just the values) that any one
> > could
> > access.
> >
> > I think if I were doing this, I wouldn't take a chance that someone could
> > break
> > into my workbook and see all the filenames/passwords.
> >
> > I think I'd run that on demand (whenever I had to).
> >
> > ===
> > Another option. You update that summary workbook. Open all the files,
> > have the
> > links update, and save it with the current values.
> >
> > Tell the other users that they should not update links when they open that
> > summary workbook.
> >
> > But you'd want to open the 30 workbooks before you open the summary
> > workbook
> > (with links). Then you could avoid all the prompts.
> >
> > saved from a previous post:
> >
> > Maybe you could create a macro that would open all those workbooks first.
> >
> > Your macro would supply both the workbook's name and password.
> >
> > Then after all these workbooks are open, you could open the file that
> > contains
> > the links.
> >
> > Kind of like:
> >
> > option explict
> > sub auto_open()
> > dim wkbk1 as workbook
> > dim wkbk2 as workbook
> > dim wkbk3 as workbook
> >
> > set wkbk1 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\a.xls",password:="one")
> > set wkbk2 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\b.xls",password:="two")
> > set wkbk3 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\c.xls",password:="three")
> >
> > 'wkbk3 is the real one!
> >
> > wkbk1.close savechanges:=false
> > wkbk2.close savechanges:=false
> > 'thisworkbook.close savechanges:=false
> > end sub
> >
> > (I'd create a 4th workbook that opens the files in order and just closes
> > the
> > first 2 and then itself.)
> >
> >
> >
> > Stephen Larivee wrote:
> >>
> >> I am trying to help a friend with an Excel project. She is a teacher.
> >> We
> >> are using Excel 2002.
> >>
> >> She would like to have 30 files for 30 people on a network drive everyone
> >> can access Each of the 30 files would be password protected. (Save As,
> >> Tools, General Options). Each person could access her own file but no
> >> one
> >> else's.
> >>
> >> She would like me to create a Grand Total sheet that would take data from
> >> each of the 30 files and link the data to show the overall totals.
> >> Everyone
> >> could see the totals, but they could not see the individual scores each
> >> teacher had.
> >>
> >> I can do all of the above. The problem is that when you open the Grand
> >> Total file which is not password protected, you are told that the links
> >> must
> >> be updated. If you click to update, you are then prompted for all the
> >> passwords. This is too much work for each person to do, plus it gives
> >> them
> >> passwords to get into the 30 files so there goes your security.
> >>
> >> I guess I am asking two contradictory things from Excel. First, I am
> >> saying
> >> I want to password protect some data in the 30 files. But then I want
> >> Excel
> >> to make the data available in the Grand Total sheet for anyone to see.
> >>
> >> Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could set up Excel to achieve
> >> my
> >> goals? Or am I asking the impossible?
> >>
> >> TIA
> >
> > --
> >
> > Dave Peterson
>
>
>

What do you mean by "breaking the password"???




"Raj" <Raj@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:232FCFD4-BDB2-4377-AED4-AB7F3478DB61@microsoft.com...
> Hi Stephan
>
> How about breaking the password for all the 30 files??? Let me know if you
> are interested and mail me personally.
>
> Bye and Take Care!!
>
> "Stephen Larivee" wrote:
>
>> Thank you. I will have to rethink this.
>>
>> Thanks again.
>>
>>
>>
>> "Dave Peterson" <ec35720@netscapeXSPAM.com> wrote in message
>> news:421553DF.F9ED840A@netscapeXSPAM.com...
>> >I think you're asking the impossible if you just work with passwords.
>> >
>> > You could save the workbooks with the
>> > file|saveas|tools|general options|"password to modify" set
>> >
>> > You won't be prompted for a password for your links. But anyone could
>> > open that
>> > workbook and see all the data (in readonly mode, though).
>> >
>> > In fact, if you could see the links you wanted (without a password),
>> > then
>> > anyone
>> > could build their own link and point at any/all cells and see
>> > everything.
>> >
>> > One option would be to have a workbook that knows all the filenames and
>> > passwords and opens each and copies the relevant information from each
>> > and
>> > creates a new workbook (without the links--just the values) that any
>> > one
>> > could
>> > access.
>> >
>> > I think if I were doing this, I wouldn't take a chance that someone
>> > could
>> > break
>> > into my workbook and see all the filenames/passwords.
>> >
>> > I think I'd run that on demand (whenever I had to).
>> >
>> > ===
>> > Another option. You update that summary workbook. Open all the files,
>> > have the
>> > links update, and save it with the current values.
>> >
>> > Tell the other users that they should not update links when they open
>> > that
>> > summary workbook.
>> >
>> > But you'd want to open the 30 workbooks before you open the summary
>> > workbook
>> > (with links). Then you could avoid all the prompts.
>> >
>> > saved from a previous post:
>> >
>> > Maybe you could create a macro that would open all those workbooks
>> > first.
>> >
>> > Your macro would supply both the workbook's name and password.
>> >
>> > Then after all these workbooks are open, you could open the file that
>> > contains
>> > the links.
>> >
>> > Kind of like:
>> >
>> > option explict
>> > sub auto_open()
>> > dim wkbk1 as workbook
>> > dim wkbk2 as workbook
>> > dim wkbk3 as workbook
>> >
>> > set wkbk1 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\a.xls",password:="one")
>> > set wkbk2 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\b.xls",password:="two")
>> > set wkbk3 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\c.xls",password:="three")
>> >
>> > 'wkbk3 is the real one!
>> >
>> > wkbk1.close savechanges:=false
>> > wkbk2.close savechanges:=false
>> > 'thisworkbook.close savechanges:=false
>> > end sub
>> >
>> > (I'd create a 4th workbook that opens the files in order and just
>> > closes
>> > the
>> > first 2 and then itself.)
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Stephen Larivee wrote:
>> >>
>> >> I am trying to help a friend with an Excel project. She is a teacher.
>> >> We
>> >> are using Excel 2002.
>> >>
>> >> She would like to have 30 files for 30 people on a network drive
>> >> everyone
>> >> can access Each of the 30 files would be password protected. (Save
>> >> As,
>> >> Tools, General Options). Each person could access her own file but no
>> >> one
>> >> else's.
>> >>
>> >> She would like me to create a Grand Total sheet that would take data
>> >> from
>> >> each of the 30 files and link the data to show the overall totals.
>> >> Everyone
>> >> could see the totals, but they could not see the individual scores
>> >> each
>> >> teacher had.
>> >>
>> >> I can do all of the above. The problem is that when you open the
>> >> Grand
>> >> Total file which is not password protected, you are told that the
>> >> links
>> >> must
>> >> be updated. If you click to update, you are then prompted for all the
>> >> passwords. This is too much work for each person to do, plus it gives
>> >> them
>> >> passwords to get into the 30 files so there goes your security.
>> >>
>> >> I guess I am asking two contradictory things from Excel. First, I am
>> >> saying
>> >> I want to password protect some data in the 30 files. But then I want
>> >> Excel
>> >> to make the data available in the Grand Total sheet for anyone to see.
>> >>
>> >> Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could set up Excel to
>> >> achieve
>> >> my
>> >> goals? Or am I asking the impossible?
>> >>
>> >> TIA
>> >
>> > --
>> >
>> > Dave Peterson
>>
>>
>>

Her's an approach that I haven't thoroughly tested, but may be a solution.

1) Store all student info in the file we'll call Master and set up one
sheet/range for each student plus a Totals sheet,

2) Provide each student with a file that links to the appropriate areas in
the Master,

3) Hide all student sheets in the Master and use Tools>Protect Workbook with
a check for Structure and apply a password

Each student file can be password protected which will not interfer with
updates from Master. Even though anyone can open Master they will not be able
to view anything but the Totals sheet (at least 1 sheet must remain unhidden)
unless they unhide the other sheets which they can't do without the password.

Hope this is useful |:>)

"Stephen Larivee" wrote:

> I am trying to help a friend with an Excel project. She is a teacher. We
> are using Excel 2002.
>
>
>
> She would like to have 30 files for 30 people on a network drive everyone
> can access Each of the 30 files would be password protected. (Save As,
> Tools, General Options). Each person could access her own file but no one
> else's.
>
>
>
> She would like me to create a Grand Total sheet that would take data from
> each of the 30 files and link the data to show the overall totals. Everyone
> could see the totals, but they could not see the individual scores each
> teacher had.
>
>
>
> I can do all of the above. The problem is that when you open the Grand
> Total file which is not password protected, you are told that the links must
> be updated. If you click to update, you are then prompted for all the
> passwords. This is too much work for each person to do, plus it gives them
> passwords to get into the 30 files so there goes your security.
>
>
>
> I guess I am asking two contradictory things from Excel. First, I am saying
> I want to password protect some data in the 30 files. But then I want Excel
> to make the data available in the Grand Total sheet for anyone to see.
>
>
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could set up Excel to achieve my
> goals? Or am I asking the impossible?
>
>
>
> TIA
>
>
>

There is software available that will break/remove/identify the password for
protected workbooks (file|saveAs|Tools protection).

http://www.lostpassword.com
(I've never used it.)

And the password for both Tools|protection|protect Sheet and
tools|protection|protect workbook is also broken easily.

visit JE McGimpsey's site:
http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/removepwords.html


Stephen Larivee wrote:
>
> What do you mean by "breaking the password"???
>
> "Raj" <Raj@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:232FCFD4-BDB2-4377-AED4-AB7F3478DB61@microsoft.com...
> > Hi Stephan
> >
> > How about breaking the password for all the 30 files??? Let me know if you
> > are interested and mail me personally.
> >
> > Bye and Take Care!!
> >
> > "Stephen Larivee" wrote:
> >
> >> Thank you. I will have to rethink this.
> >>
> >> Thanks again.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> "Dave Peterson" <ec35720@netscapeXSPAM.com> wrote in message
> >> news:421553DF.F9ED840A@netscapeXSPAM.com...
> >> >I think you're asking the impossible if you just work with passwords.
> >> >
> >> > You could save the workbooks with the
> >> > file|saveas|tools|general options|"password to modify" set
> >> >
> >> > You won't be prompted for a password for your links. But anyone could
> >> > open that
> >> > workbook and see all the data (in readonly mode, though).
> >> >
> >> > In fact, if you could see the links you wanted (without a password),
> >> > then
> >> > anyone
> >> > could build their own link and point at any/all cells and see
> >> > everything.
> >> >
> >> > One option would be to have a workbook that knows all the filenames and
> >> > passwords and opens each and copies the relevant information from each
> >> > and
> >> > creates a new workbook (without the links--just the values) that any
> >> > one
> >> > could
> >> > access.
> >> >
> >> > I think if I were doing this, I wouldn't take a chance that someone
> >> > could
> >> > break
> >> > into my workbook and see all the filenames/passwords.
> >> >
> >> > I think I'd run that on demand (whenever I had to).
> >> >
> >> > ===
> >> > Another option. You update that summary workbook. Open all the files,
> >> > have the
> >> > links update, and save it with the current values.
> >> >
> >> > Tell the other users that they should not update links when they open
> >> > that
> >> > summary workbook.
> >> >
> >> > But you'd want to open the 30 workbooks before you open the summary
> >> > workbook
> >> > (with links). Then you could avoid all the prompts.
> >> >
> >> > saved from a previous post:
> >> >
> >> > Maybe you could create a macro that would open all those workbooks
> >> > first.
> >> >
> >> > Your macro would supply both the workbook's name and password.
> >> >
> >> > Then after all these workbooks are open, you could open the file that
> >> > contains
> >> > the links.
> >> >
> >> > Kind of like:
> >> >
> >> > option explict
> >> > sub auto_open()
> >> > dim wkbk1 as workbook
> >> > dim wkbk2 as workbook
> >> > dim wkbk3 as workbook
> >> >
> >> > set wkbk1 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\a.xls",password:="one")
> >> > set wkbk2 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\b.xls",password:="two")
> >> > set wkbk3 = workbooks.open(filename:="c:\c.xls",password:="three")
> >> >
> >> > 'wkbk3 is the real one!
> >> >
> >> > wkbk1.close savechanges:=false
> >> > wkbk2.close savechanges:=false
> >> > 'thisworkbook.close savechanges:=false
> >> > end sub
> >> >
> >> > (I'd create a 4th workbook that opens the files in order and just
> >> > closes
> >> > the
> >> > first 2 and then itself.)
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Stephen Larivee wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> I am trying to help a friend with an Excel project. She is a teacher.
> >> >> We
> >> >> are using Excel 2002.
> >> >>
> >> >> She would like to have 30 files for 30 people on a network drive
> >> >> everyone
> >> >> can access Each of the 30 files would be password protected. (Save
> >> >> As,
> >> >> Tools, General Options). Each person could access her own file but no
> >> >> one
> >> >> else's.
> >> >>
> >> >> She would like me to create a Grand Total sheet that would take data
> >> >> from
> >> >> each of the 30 files and link the data to show the overall totals.
> >> >> Everyone
> >> >> could see the totals, but they could not see the individual scores
> >> >> each
> >> >> teacher had.
> >> >>
> >> >> I can do all of the above. The problem is that when you open the
> >> >> Grand
> >> >> Total file which is not password protected, you are told that the
> >> >> links
> >> >> must
> >> >> be updated. If you click to update, you are then prompted for all the
> >> >> passwords. This is too much work for each person to do, plus it gives
> >> >> them
> >> >> passwords to get into the 30 files so there goes your security.
> >> >>
> >> >> I guess I am asking two contradictory things from Excel. First, I am
> >> >> saying
> >> >> I want to password protect some data in the 30 files. But then I want
> >> >> Excel
> >> >> to make the data available in the Grand Total sheet for anyone to see.
> >> >>
> >> >> Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could set up Excel to
> >> >> achieve
> >> >> my
> >> >> goals? Or am I asking the impossible?
> >> >>
> >> >> TIA
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> >
> >> > Dave Peterson
> >>
> >>
> >>

--

Dave Peterson

Thank you to all who responded. Some interesting leads but it is still not
coming out the way I had hoped. While this person had hoped to be able to
accomplish her goals with this file, I don't think it is a vital issue. I
will tell her that I was not able to find a satisfactory solution.

But thanks again for all the help.