XL97: File Password Lost Moving File to an Exchange Folder

When you open a password protected Microsoft Excel workbook from a Microsoft Exchange folder, the file may open without displaying a dialog box asking you for the password.

When you move a Microsoft Excel workbook into a Microsoft Exchange folder, the security attributes of the Password to Modify option assigned in Microsoft Excel are ignored.

NOTE: If you saved your Microsoft Excel file with a Password to Open option, you are prompted for this password when you open your file from an Exchange folder.

Method 1: Place File in a Secure Exchange Folder

Microsoft Exchange provides its own set of security attributes for Microsoft Exchange folders. If you want to restrict access to a Microsoft Excel file in a Microsoft Exchange folder, you must place the file in an Exchange folder that has the appropriate file/share security.

Method 2: Change the Type of Password Protection

Change the password protection type to Password to Open. To do this with a file that already has Password to Modify protection, do the following:

1.	Open the file in Microsoft Excel.
2.	On the File menu, click Save As.
3.	In the Save As dialog box, click Options.
4.	In the Save Options dialog box remove the Password to Modify password.
5.	Type a password in the Password to Open edit box and click OK.
6.	Reenter the password in the Confirm Password dialog box and click OK.
7.	Click Save to save your file.

NOTE: You need to consider the ramifications of saving your file with a Password to Open password versus a Password to Modify password. Each type of password offers different protection for your file and in some cases, one type may be more appropriate than the other.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Excel 2000.