I will be amazed if it can be done!!!!!!!!!!!!

imranrashid · Mar 27th, 2002, 01:01 PM

I am working on a microsoft EXCEL file. This file contains calculations.

I want to distribute this file through my website but at the same time I want my clients to download new version every six months.

Now the problem is that I want this excel file to stop working on a specified future date. It could be in either way:
- to lock the file automatically on a specified date; or
- to delete the file on a specified date; or
- to lock and show a specified worksheet only with message that the file has expired and how to get new version
- to lock all sheets except one
etc.......

Please help me how to do this.

Any other way to get this function and the results...

Imran Rashid
http://www.exportfinance.com.pk

RET79 · Mar 27th, 2002, 01:04 PM

Quote:

On 2002-03-27 12:01, imranrashid wrote:
I am working on a microsoft EXCEL file. This file contains calculations.

I want to distribute this file through my website but at the same time I want my clients to download new version every six months.

Now the problem is that I want this excel file to stop working on a specified future date. It could be in either way:
- to lock the file automatically on a specified date; or
- to delete the file on a specified date; or
- to lock and show a specified worksheet only with message that the file has expired and how to get new version
- to lock all sheets except one
etc.......

Please help me how to do this.

Any other way to get this function and the results...

Imran Rashid
http://www.exportfinance.com.pk

i am sure this can be done by using the ontime method, look it up in help as a starting point.

LarryJ · Mar 27th, 2002, 01:11 PM

Easiest thing to try would be to add some code in the Workbook_Open event, first thing, test the date against your die date, and prompt a msg then exit the workbook.

If Now() >= CDate("6/27/02") then
MsgBox "Get a new copy"
me.close
end if

Juan Pablo González · Mar 27th, 2002, 01:12 PM

You could check at open the date versus the date that the file stops working, which could be located in a hidden sheet, or in the registry or in a text file...

One thing, Excel isn't the most secure tool... what I mean is, if someone wants to get it, they can.

Dave Hawley · Mar 27th, 2002, 05:50 PM

Hi imranrashid

There quite a few ways this could be done, most far from fool-proof though. The code below is just one of many ways. This code must be placed in the Private Module of "ThisWorkbook".

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
Dim stPass As String
Dim stDate As String
Dim wsSheet As Worksheet

On Error Resume Next
Application.DisplayAlerts = False
Sheets.Add().Name = "DateChecker"
If ActiveSheet.Name <> "DateChecker" Then ActiveSheet.Delete

Sheets("DateChecker").Visible = xlVeryHidden
If Sheets("DateChecker").Range("A1") = "" Then
Sheets("DateChecker").Range("A1") = Date
Me.Save
End If

If Sheets("DateChecker").Range("A1") + 30 > Date Then
Sheets.Add before:=Sheets(1)
For Each wsSheet In Me.Worksheets
If wsSheet.Index <> 1 Then wsSheet.Delete
Next wsSheet
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
Me.Save
End If

End Sub

The code will add the date to a hidden sheet the first time they open the file. From then on it will check the date each time they open. If the date on the hidden sheet is greater than 30 days old the code adds a sheet(Excel requires at least one visible sheet), then deletes all others. This may of course be a bit dramatic for your needs, but hopefully it will get you started.

Mar 27th, 2002, 01:12 PM	#4
Juan Pablo González MrExcel MVP Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Bogota, Colombia Posts: 11,927	You could check at open the date versus the date that the file stops working, which could be located in a hidden sheet, or in the registry or in a text file... One thing, Excel isn't the most secure tool... what I mean is, if someone wants to get it, they can. __________________ Regards, Juan Pablo González http://www.juanpg.com

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Mar 27th, 2002, 01:01 PM	#1
imranrashid New Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 3	I am working on a microsoft EXCEL file. This file contains calculations. I want to distribute this file through my website but at the same time I want my clients to download new version every six months. Now the problem is that I want this excel file to stop working on a specified future date. It could be in either way: - to lock the file automatically on a specified date; or - to delete the file on a specified date; or - to lock and show a specified worksheet only with message that the file has expired and how to get new version - to lock all sheets except one etc....... Please help me how to do this. Any other way to get this function and the results... Imran Rashid http://www.exportfinance.com.pk

Mar 27th, 2002, 01:11 PM	#3
LarryJ Board Regular Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 60	Easiest thing to try would be to add some code in the Workbook_Open event, first thing, test the date against your die date, and prompt a msg then exit the workbook. If Now() >= CDate("6/27/02") then MsgBox "Get a new copy" me.close end if

Mar 27th, 2002, 05:50 PM	#5
Dave Hawley Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,582	Hi imranrashid There quite a few ways this could be done, most far from fool-proof though. The code below is just one of many ways. This code must be placed in the Private Module of "ThisWorkbook". Private Sub Workbook_Open() Dim stPass As String Dim stDate As String Dim wsSheet As Worksheet On Error Resume Next Application.DisplayAlerts = False Sheets.Add().Name = "DateChecker" If ActiveSheet.Name <> "DateChecker" Then ActiveSheet.Delete Sheets("DateChecker").Visible = xlVeryHidden If Sheets("DateChecker").Range("A1") = "" Then Sheets("DateChecker").Range("A1") = Date Me.Save End If If Sheets("DateChecker").Range("A1") + 30 > Date Then Sheets.Add before:=Sheets(1) For Each wsSheet In Me.Worksheets If wsSheet.Index <> 1 Then wsSheet.Delete Next wsSheet Application.DisplayAlerts = True Me.Save End If End Sub The code will add the date to a hidden sheet the first time they open the file. From then on it will check the date each time they open. If the date on the hidden sheet is greater than 30 days old the code adds a sheet(Excel requires at least one visible sheet), then deletes all others. This may of course be a bit dramatic for your needs, but hopefully it will get you started.