password protect a spread sheet

[bob12a]

I have a spread sheet I wish to password protect.

I use Roboform Pro for all my log on protection but it seems I cannot produce a password this way

 

Any ideas please

 

I have put this request as I think is would count as security

[Guest Wolfeymole]

What version of Office are you using Bob?

[bob12a]

Am using openoffice3 for this particular file.

 

Its part of the teaching I am giving my friend who is just learning and I did not want to bog him down My MS 2007

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Is he using XP or Vista?

 

If XP save the file with a given name and Save As box will pop up.

 

In Tools to the right click General Options.

 

In the File Sharing and Password to Modify enter a password then click ok.

[bob12a]

He is using VISTA

 

You may be remembering I wanted to change his lap top to XP but in the end followed your advice and stuck him with Vista

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Ok go to Tools, scroll down until you see Protect Document.

 

A side box will open, choose Protect Document.

 

If you choose Protect Sheet it will protect that sheet only and not others that may be in the Document.

 

Enter a password and then confirm it then click OK.

[bob12a]

Wolfey thanks

 

I know how to do that so I did not explain myself.

 

What I would like to do is not to be able to OPEN the spread at all without using a password.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Sorry I was mistaken in my earlier post, you need to enter a password for both Sheet and Document.

[RandyL]

Hi Bob.

 

I can't find a way to do that either. As you noted you can still open it but not change it without a password.

 

Prior to Vista you could put the file in a folder then compress the folder and password protect the compressed folder.

 

Unfortunately password protecting a compressed folder option was removed from Vista Home Premium. It is available in Business or Ultimate or both. I forget which ones. For that matter they may even be able to protect a file itself in one or both of those versions.

 

What version of Vista does he have?

 

There are third party tools to password protect but I have not personally tried them. There may be risks involved with that such as what happens if the hard drive fails.

[bob12a]

Thank you both very much

Wolfy It protects the document and the sheet but does not stop someone opening the file and VIEWING it

 

RL What version of Vista does he have? Ultimate

 

Later on in the day I am thinking of trying to put a shortcut file in the safe notes of Roboform Pro.

Will let you know what happens

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Please re-read post No 8 Bob

[RandyL]

Encrypting File System from Microsoft

 

Beware though as you may not be able to retrieve these files in the future should something go wrong with the computer, hard drive or user account.

[bob12a]

Wolfey

 

What you say is correct it protects the sheet and document but this just stops anyone from changing anything in the spreadsheet

 

It is not what I am trying to do I am trying to stop the spreadsheet from being opened in the first place without the use of a password

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Bob its easy to do ok.

 

1: Password protect both Sheet and Document.

 

2: Save (Save As) the whole thing with a file name and it will immediately ask you for the Password.

 

Now when you come to open that file again it will ask you for the Password and NO data will be showing until you input that Password.

 

This applies to either if you open it in Calc or from where the file is stored.

[RandyL]

Hi Bob;

 

After extensive testing by Wolfeymole and myself we have isolated the problem as to why we and you see and have different options.

 

In order to not SEE the password protected Open Office document you need to update Open Office to version 3.0.1

 

Once you do that it will work if you select to password both the sheet and the document.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

It is not what I am trying to do I am trying to stop the spreadsheet from being opened in the first place without the use of a password

 

If I read this right Bob it's just not logical mate, what other method would there be to stop the document being opened without the use of a password?

[bob12a]

Fairly certain you have between you solved it for me thanks very much now when I try to open file it asks for a password just as I want it to do

Regards

[Guest Wolfeymole]

But I thought....................:confused:

 

Oh well never mind, good to see you are ok now Bob.