XL2000: Cannot Start or Change Protected Objects

In Microsoft Excel 2000, if a worksheet and its objects have been protected, you cannot start (make active) or change objects that are linked by using the object linking and embedding (OLE) feature.

To start an OLE object or to make a change to any type of object, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

Ensure that your worksheet is not protected. To remove protection from an individual worksheet, follow these steps:

1. Switch to the worksheet that you want to unprotect.
2. Point to Protection on the Tools menu, and then click Unprotect Sheet.
3. If a password is requested, type the password, and then click OK to continue.

Method 2

If you want the worksheet to remain protected, and you want to start OLE objects or make changes to any type of object, follow these steps:

1. Unprotect the worksheet using Method 1.
2. Point to Protection on the Tools menu, and then click Protect Sheet.
3. In the Protect Sheet dialog box, click to clear the Objects check box.

Your worksheet should now be protected and you should be able to start your objects normally.

When you protect a worksheet by using the Protect Sheet dialog box, you are given the option to protect objects.

If you protect objects, all objects not contained in cells (such as embedded charts, text boxes, drawn objects, and OLE objects) cannot be changed. Because starting an OLE object (making it active) allows you to change it, Microsoft Excel does not allow you to start a protected OLE object.

You do not receive a message when you try to start or change these objects.

On the other hand, when you attempt to change protected cells on a worksheet, you do receive the following error message: