Error message when you try to unprotect an IRM-protected workbook programmatically in Excel 2003: "Run-time error: 1004"

Consider the following scenario. You open a workbook that you helped protect by using Information Rights Management (IRM) in Microsoft Office Excel 2003. Then, you try to unprotect the IRM-protected workbook programmatically by using the Unprotect method. In this scenario, the workbook is not unprotected. If you try to help reprotect the workbook programmatically by using the Protect method, the workbook is not reprotected. Additionally, you receive one or more of the following error messages.

This behavior is by design.

For more information about how to use Information Rights Management in Excel 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: