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.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2013 For Dummies today!
Excel is a whiz at creating charts from your worksheet data. When the program tries to determine what should be included ...
Discover MoreFiguring out how to get the data points in an X-Y scatter plot labeled can be confusing; Excel certainly doesn't make it ...
Discover MoreChange the data on which a chart is based and Excel obligingly updates the chart to reflect the change. What if you want ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments