Solved Xlsx-unprotect sheet


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lbeck

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I'm trying to find a word in my workbook. Excel states "we couldn't find what you're looking for...." Trying to determine why, I find that I may be searching a "Protected" sheet. When I try to unprotect (Review/Protect/Protect Sheet/Password to unprotect sheet) I don't believe that I ever protected that (or any) sheet and I don't have a password. I tried several of my secret passwords. None works.

Excel Help doesn't address this dilemma. Can Eleven forums help??

Thanks,

Lee
 

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Where is the Excel sheet from?
 

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    ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If it’s a 3rd party Excel file, the 3rd party would have protected it.
“Save As” another Excel file and see if the protection carries over.
Alternatively "Select All" of the Worksheet content, copy/paste into another Excel file Worksheet.

I can’t see how a protected Worksheet prevents searching the sheet. I can’t remember if that’s an option when protecting or locking an Excel file. (Edit: No, it isn’t)

General purpose of sheet Protections

GoalMethodSearchable?
Prevent accidental editsProtect Sheet (Review tab)Yes
Hide sensitive infoHide Sheet + Protect WorkbookNo (if done correctly)
Hide formulasLock cells + HiddenYes (shows results)
High securityEncrypt file with passwordNo

EDIT:

I have an Excel file that has over 30 Worksheets in it containing extensive formulas, text etc
I just tried protecting Worksheets and then the whole Workbook.
I cannot replicate any way to prevent searching due to a Protected Worksheet.

How are you searching the Excel Sheets?
What are you searching for?
This information could prove useful.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8655
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built 2013
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard thingy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Touch Screen Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / Mx Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    2000/500Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
    TP-Link BE9300 WiFi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 (Archer TBE550E)
    TP-Link TX201 V1 2.5GB Lan

    Grandstream HT812 - VoIP
    ASUS DSL-AX82U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-AC68U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-BE88U Router

    Brother MFC-L2880DW Printer

    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8655
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7 14IRL8 - 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
Probably not your issue but I've had instances when I could not find a word in excel and all I had to do was click inside any cell in the worksheet and retry the search and that worked. I've never even tried to figure out why that happens but it's annoying. I knew the word was there, I just wanted the search to get me to it faster than scrolling and looking.
 

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Thanks for the thoughtful replies. I found a workaround.

Throughout the workbook I used a formula =PROPER and copied it throughout. So when I looked for a word it wasn't found - even though I could "see" the word in cell(s). I rectified the problem by copying the errant column, and then pasting "values" onto a different column. I then deleted the column with =PROPER.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Device name CyberPowerPC
    CPU
    13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13400F 2.50 GHz
    Memory
    32.0 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Gforce RTX 4060
    Hard Drives
    2 TB ADATA Legend 800 Gold SSD and several HDDs
    PSU
    650W
    Browser
    Chrome
    Other Info
    Windows 11 23H2 10.0.26100 Build 26100
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Home 22H2 19045.4123
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer_Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
    Memory
    32.0 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Gforce GTX 745
    Sound Card
    ONN24
    Hard Drives
    Many
    Keyboard
    JLAB supports 2 computers/monitors
    Mouse
    Acer wired USB
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Only what W10 installed
    Other Info
    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
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