Protecting Excel From Copying

[AsleepInYorkshire]

I'm aware how I can protect VBA, worksheets and cells in Excel.

But I'm not to sure how to prevent someone copying a Excel spreadsheet. I'm considering using Excel for a particular use and should be able to charge a nominal fee for this. But if it can be copied easily then I may not be able to use Excel and go down a different route.

Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

I have looked at this site - but haven't quite got my head around it all just yet - https://www.xlspadlock.com/sell-workboo ... 6628928627

Thanks in advance

AiY(D)

[pje16]

can you print it to a pdf creator
cheers
Paul
If not drop me a PM

[AsleepInYorkshire]

can you print it to a pdf creator
cheers
Paul
If not drop me a PM

No. The spreadsheet is to be used to enter variables.

AiY(D)

[pje16]

not sure how much you know re Excel
But you can lock cells and password protect that bit
but if they know, they can copy and paste the sheet to new workbook
That software look quite pricey

[servodude]

can you print it to a pdf creator
cheers
Paul
If not drop me a PM

No. The spreadsheet is to be used to enter variables.

AiY(D)

I would have thought that the "protect xxxxx" stuff in excel would be able to do this; but it's been years (almost decades ) since I had to use spreadsheets in any real anger

[pje16]

Thanks but that doesn't work as you can copy and paste from the protected worksheet to another sheet or workbook
It has always been a weakness in Excel, which I would have expected Microsoft to fix

[Breelander]

....I'm not to sure how to prevent someone copying a Excel spreadsheet. I'm considering using Excel for a particular use and should be able to charge a nominal fee for this. But if it can be copied easily then I may not be able to use Excel and go down a different route.

It has always been a weakness in Excel, which I would have expected Microsoft to fix

In the mean time, there are paid-for third party solutions if you need to commercially distribute an Excel workbook.

How the workbook copy protection works
1. You compile the EXE file with the hardware locking option selected, then put it on web for downloading or send this EXE to your client some other way.
2. Your client tries to start this EXE file, sees the window that contains only his computer id number and sends this number to you.
3. You generate the registration key using your client’s registration info (name, email, etc) along with their computer id number, and send it to your client (after they made purchase, for example).
4. Your client copies the registration key into the same folder as where the EXE is located.
5. The EXE starts only on that computer.

https://xcellcompiler.com/workbook-copy-protection/