Excel Macro: Protect a Worksheet Before Workbook Close

Sometimes you need to send your workbook out into the world with specific worksheets protected. If you find that you’re constantly protecting and unprotecting sheets before distributing your work-books, this macro can help you.

Protect a Worksheet Before Workbook Close

'------------------ ThisWorkbook ------------------
Private Sub Workbook_BeforeClose(Cancel As Boolean)

'Step 1: Protect the sheet with a password
     Sheets("Sheet1").Protect Password:="ExcelBaby"

'Step 2: Save the workbook
     ActiveWorkbook.Save

End Sub

How This Macro Works

This code is triggered by the workbook’s BeforeClose event. When you try to close the workbook, this event fires, running the code within. The macro automatically protects the specified sheet with the given password, and then saves the workbook.

1. In Step 1, we are explicitly specifying which sheet we want to protect — Sheet1, in this case. We are also providing the password argument, Password:="ExcelBaby". This defines the password needed to remove the protection. This password argument is completely optional. If you omit this altogether, the sheet will still be protected, but you won’t need a password to unprotect it. Also, be aware that Excel pass-words are case-sensitive, so you’ll want pay attention to the exact password and capitalization that you are using.
2. Step 2 tells Excel to save the workbook. If we don’t save the workbook, the sheet protection we just applied won’t be in effect the next time the workbook is opened. when a user attempts to modified such a protected cell, Excel would displaying a message telling the user:
   The cell or chart you're trying to change is on a protected sheet. To make a change, unprotect the sheet. You might be requested to enter a password.

How to Use This Macro