Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 13, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
A common task done in macros is to lock and unlock different cells and objects in a workbook. This is often done for protection reasons, so that things cannot be modified inadvertently by users. If you need to unlock the charts that are in your workbook, you can easily do so if you remember that even though charts can be considered drawing objects, you don't unlock them as drawing objects--you specifically unlock the chart object.
In addition, how you unlock a chart depends on whether it is a Chart sheet or a Chart object on a regular worksheet. The following code, named ChartUnProtect, provides an example of how to successfully unprotect both types of charts.
Sub ChartUnProtect()
Dim wks As Worksheet
Dim cht As Chart
Dim chtObj As ChartObject
Dim PW As String
PW = "mypass"
'Unprotect all Chart sheets
For Each cht In ActiveWorkbook.Charts
Sheets(cht.Name).Unprotect password:=PW
Next
'Unlock all Chart objects on each worksheet
For Each wks In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
wks.Unprotect password:=PW
For Each chtObj In wks.ChartObjects
wks.DrawingObjects(chtObj.Name).Locked = False
Next
wks.Protect password:=PW
Next
End Sub
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2264) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
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