Microsoft KB Archive/142801

= PRJ: Can't Open Password-Protected MS Excel File in MS Project =

Article ID: 142801

Article Last Modified on 11/13/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Project 4.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Project 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Project 4.0 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q142801



SYMPTOMS
Microsoft Project cannot import data from a Microsoft Excel workbook that has been password protected. In Microsoft Project 4.0 and 4.1, when the Import dialog box appears, the Sheet box is blank and you cannot select a sheet. When you click OK, you receive the following message:

You must specify which sheet you want to import.

In Microsoft Project 98, you receive the following error message:

The Microsoft Excel file cannot be opened because it is password protected and contains encrypted data.

NOTE: This behavior only occurs when you protect a Microsoft Excel workbook with a protection password. Microsoft Project will properly open a file saved with a write-reservation password.



WORKAROUND
To work around this behavior, open the workbook in Microsoft Excel (using the correct password), and save the file without a protection password (on the File menu, click Save As, click Options, and delete the password from the Protection Password box under File Sharing). Microsoft Project will be able to read the file properly.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Project listed above.

Keywords: kbbug kbinterop kbpending KB142801

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