I'm having an issue unfreezeing panes throughout multiple pages of my workbook. I've unlocked the workbook structure and all of the sheets in the workbook and the freeze pane icon remains greyed out.

I researched other threads on this issue and I verified the workbook is not protected, there is no split screens on any of the sheets nor am I in Page Layout View.

What is interesting, under File > Info > Protect Workbook, there is a yellow box and it says, "The Structure of the workbook has been locked to prevent unwanted changes, such as moving, deleting or adding sheets." It seems to be permanately locked for some reason. I've tried 100 times to unlock the workbook structure via Review > Protect Workbook and under File > Info > Protect Workbook > Protect Workbook Structure.

Any ideas to fix this issue? Thanks in advance.

Fastest way to copy a worksheet?

Hold down the Ctrl key while dragging tab for Sheet1 to the right. Excel will make a copy of the worksheet.

• 2

Go to review and click on Protect Workbook. If it is password protected, then it will ask you for the password.

• 3

  Go to review and click on Protect Workbook. If it is password protected, then it will ask you for the password.

Like I said, I’ve done this 100 times and it stay permanently locked. Any other ideas?

• 4

As far as I know, it cannot be unlocked under the file info menu, only the review menu.

Is the workbook read only? Has the workbook been finalised, which also makes it read only?

Have you tried saving it as another filename and then un-protecting it?

Is there any VBA code, which is keeping it locked? I have done that before. Not with the structure, but to prevent changes to the workbook.

Can you protect and un-protect a new workbook?

• 5

Thanks for the additional ideas, CountTepes.

I tried everything you suggested and no luck. I confirmed workbook isn't read only nor has it been finalized. Yes, I renamed it and tried to reopen. I also renamed it and saved it as a .xlsb file and reopening. I checked all my VBA code and there is nothing locking the workbook structure. I even went as far to delete all of the worksheets and Modules and no luck. When I deleted everything, I found a second workbook object called "Sheet81". I didn't think it possible to have more than one Workbook object, so, I tried to delete it and remove is greyed out.

See screen shot below. I think my Excel VBA Project generated multiple workbook objects in error. You can see I have the standard "ThisWorkbook" workbook object. However, Sheet81 also turned into a workbook object, leaving the original worksheet as a copy of the previous one, minus the VBA code.

I have a feeling this is the cause of my issue but I figure out how to delete it. Any thoughts to delete this second workbook object?

• 6

Any thoughts out there? Thanks.

• 7

I'm guessing from the look of some of the worksheet names you are not at liberty to upload a copy of the file and provide us with a link to have a look at it?

• 8

I'm guessing from the look of some of the worksheet names you are not at liberty to upload a copy of the file and provide us with a link to have a look at it?