Hiding columns in a foolproof manner

ajay_jain

New Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2019
Messages
2
Hey experts,
I haven't been able to find any solution for hiding a few columns (with a password) in a workbook that I need to send to a large group. The columns have sensitive info that I can only share with a select few. If I try locking cells & then protecting sheet with password, then anybody can just write a formula in a new worksheet to reference to any of the hidden cells.
Is there really any method to crack this ?
Thanks,
Ajay
 

Excel Facts

Ambidextrous Undo
Undo last command with Ctrl+Z or Alt+Backspace. If you use the Undo icon in the QAT, open the drop-down arrow to undo up to 100 steps.
Have you considered exporting the data you need them to see with VBA to a new workbook that doesn't contain that info?
 
Upvote 0
OR copy the data and paste to a new sheet as values only !
Then delete all columns not required !
 
Upvote 0
Excel is not a secure platform.
If you don't want someone to have certain data, don't send it to them. Especially on an Excel spreadsheet.
 
Upvote 0
Thanks guys .. the challenges are I do not know VBA and this worksheet is a part of a complex workbook and therefore copying only the values won't work as I can't introduce new worksheets.

I was wondering that this should be a pretty standard functionality. And this has been implemented as well through locked cells and then protecting workbook. Only issue is that the method is not foolproof. Hence I was thinking if there is a more standardized way to achieve this ?
 
Upvote 0
make a copy of workbook then delete sensitive data/columns and send to the users
 
Upvote 0

Forum statistics

Threads
1,213,497
Messages
6,114,002
Members
448,543
Latest member
MartinLarkin

We've detected that you are using an adblocker.

We have a great community of people providing Excel help here, but the hosting costs are enormous. You can help keep this site running by allowing ads on MrExcel.com.
Allow Ads at MrExcel

Which adblocker are you using?

Disable AdBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Pause on this site" option.
Go back

Disable AdBlock Plus

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock Plus

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the toggle to disable it for "mrexcel.com".
Go back

Disable uBlock Origin

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock Origin

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back

Disable uBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back
Back
Top