Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows NT/2000 => Topic started by: abbey1997 on September 15, 2006, 05:45:22 AM

Title: Microsoft Excel 2000 - Prevent Copy
Post by: abbey1997 on September 15, 2006, 05:45:22 AM

Is there any way to prevent a user from copying an entire worksheet and pasting it in a different file?
Thank you!

Title: Re: Microsoft Excel 2000 - Prevent Copy
Post by: Michael on September 15, 2006, 07:39:21 AM

You can always apply protection on your worksheets and workbooks.

Tools -> Protection -> Protect Sheet / Protect Workbook

Title: Re: Microsoft Excel 2000 - Prevent Copy
Post by: soybean on September 15, 2006, 07:58:14 AM

Tools -> Protection -> Protect Sheet / Protect Workbook will not prevent copying and pasting into another file.  It will only prevent the specific file in which protection was enabled from being modified.  

You may want to put a password on the file to open or modifiy it.  To do this, use Save As, and click on Tools in the Save As panel.  Then, choose General Options and set the password(s).

Title: Re: Microsoft Excel 2000 - Prevent Copy
Post by: Rob Pomeroy on September 15, 2006, 10:19:36 AM

Quote

Is there any way to prevent a user from copying an entire worksheet and pasting it in a different file?

Convert it to a PDF; don't distribute the xls file.  You can do this using the free program, PrimoPDF.  Find a link to it in the software FAQ (see my signature).

Title: Re: Microsoft Excel 2000 - Prevent Copy
Post by: Neil on September 15, 2006, 02:36:01 PM

I never tried it with a PDF of an Excel sheet, but it is possible to copy text from a PDF quite easily - just nobody knows about it ;D

Title: Re: Microsoft Excel 2000 - Prevent Copy
Post by: soybean on September 15, 2006, 07:23:52 PM

I can't recall seeing a PDF of a spreadsheet but I'm sure that it would not contain formulas.  It would simply show the results of formulas, just as the actual spreadsheet would.  So, even though the numbers and text in an Excel file converted to PDF could perhaps be copied, the underlying formulas could not.  

Title: Re: Microsoft Excel 2000 - Prevent Copy
Post by: Neil on September 16, 2006, 08:27:02 AM

Good point.

Title: Re: Microsoft Excel 2000 - Prevent Copy
Post by: Rob Pomeroy on September 16, 2006, 11:24:20 AM

I guess it would be useful to know what the OP actually wants to do...