Open an existing Read Only Excel document

Question

Open an existing Read Only Excel document

dpcraney (TechnicalUser)

(OP)

25 Aug 09 11:33

I've reviewed the posts for something similar but have been unable to find anything. I have the following code snip...

Dim xlApp As Object
Dim ObjWorkbook As Object
Dim ObjWorksheet As Object

Set xlApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
xlApp.Application.DisplayAlerts = False
set ObjWorkbook = xlApp.Workbooks.Open ("S:\Dan\folder\file.xls")
xlApp.Visible = True
Set objWorksheet = xlApp.Sheets("sheet1")

The file "S:\Dan\folder\file.xls" is saved as a password protected file and I want to open a "Read Only" version. In VBA, I know how to do this as...

Workbooks.Open Filename:="s:\Dan\folder\file.xls", _ReadOnly:=True
Set shSheet = Worksheets("Sheet1")

How can I open this file as a read only type? What is the correct syntax?

IknowMe (Programmer) · Answer 1 · 2009-09-09 10:36:59

set ObjWorkbook = xlApp.Workbooks.Open ("S:\Dan\folder\file.xls")
If not ObjWorkbook.ReadOnly then
objWorkbook.ChangeFileAccess Mode:=xlReadOnly, WritePassword:="admin"
end if
xlApp.Visible = True

Sometimes you gotta leave your zone of safety. You have to manufacture Inspirado. You gotta get out of the apartment. You've got to run with the wolves. You've got to dive into the ocean and fight with the sharks. Or just treat yourself to a delicious hot fudge sundae........ with nuts. - Jack Black

IknowMe (Programmer) · Answer 2 · 2009-09-09 11:10:33

Okay ignore my former post, it appeared to be working as I had a non visible copy of the workbook open so subsequent opens were ReadOnly by default.

It spawned the following idea however.

CODE

Sub Main
    Dim xlDummy as Object
    Dim xlApp as Object
    Dim xlWkbkDummy as Object
    Dim ObjWorksheet As Object

    'opening a workbook twice for ReadOnly trickery
    Set xlDummy = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
    Set xlApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
    xlDummy.DisplayAlerts = False
    xlApp.DisplayAlerts = False
    Set xlWkbkDummy = xlDummy.Workbooks.Open ("C:\test.xls")
    Set ObjWorkbook = xlApp.Workbooks.Open ("C:\test.xls")

    'close the first wkbk so only the ReadOnly copy is available to user
    xlDummy.quit
    Set xlDummy = Nothing
    Set xlWkbkDummy = Nothing

    Set objWorksheet = xlApp.Sheets("sheet1")
    'show ReadOnly wkbk
    xlApp.Visible = True

    'Set shSheet = Worksheets("Sheet1")

End Sub

Sometimes you gotta leave your zone of safety. You have to manufacture Inspirado. You gotta get out of the apartment. You've got to run with the wolves. You've got to dive into the ocean and fight with the sharks. Or just treat yourself to a delicious hot fudge sundae........ with nuts. - Jack Black

IknowMe (Programmer) · Answer 3 · 2009-09-09 11:15:23

Or you could set the property of S:\Dan\folder\file.xls to read only to begin with and avoid the whole mess.

This is a simple right click on the file choose properties and check the read only box.

Sometimes you gotta leave your zone of safety. You have to manufacture Inspirado. You gotta get out of the apartment. You've got to run with the wolves. You've got to dive into the ocean and fight with the sharks. Or just treat yourself to a delicious hot fudge sundae........ with nuts. - Jack Black

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Open an existing Read Only Excel document