EasyXLS

How to protect cells and sheet elements in VB.NET

EasyXLS Excel library can be used to export Excel files in VB.NET. The library works with .NET Framework or .NET Core platform.

Step 1: Download EasyXLS Excel Library for .NET

To download the trial version of EasyXLS Excel Library, press the below button:

Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for VB.NET

If you already own a license key, you may login and download EasyXLS from your account.

Install the downloaded EasyXLS installer for v8.6 or earlier.

Step 2: License file setup

Step required for EasyXLS v9.0 or later.

If you are using a trial, generate a trial license file from EasyXLS trials page. The trial license is valid for 30-days.

If you own a license key, you may login to the account that purchased the license and generate the license file from:
https://www.easyxls.com/my-orders

Setup the license file into your project using these guidelines.

Step 3: Create a VB.NET project

If don't have a project, create one as ASP.NET web application, windows forms app, console application, class library or service.

Step 4: Include EasyXLS library into project

EasyXLS.dll must be added as reference to your project. EasyXLS.dll can be found:
- Inside the downloaded archive at Step 1 for EasyXLS v9.0 or later
- Under installation path for EasyXLS v8.6 or earlier, in "Dot NET version" folder.

Add EasyXLS reference

Step 5: Run VB.NET code that protects Excel sheet

Execute the following VB.NET code that exports data to Excel, protects Excel sheet and locks cells.

'-------------------------------------------------------------
' Tutorial 06
'
' This code sample shows how to create an Excel file in VB.NET
' with multiple sheets. The first sheet is protected and
' filled with data. The cells are formatted and locked.
' ------------------------------------------------------------

Imports System.Drawing
Imports EasyXLS
Imports EasyXLS.Constants

Module Tutorial06

    Sub Main()

        Console.WriteLine("Tutorial 06" & vbCrLf & "----------" & vbCrLf)

        ' Create an instance of the class that creates Excel files, having two sheets
        Dim workbook As New ExcelDocument(2)

        ' Set the sheet names
        workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).setSheetName("First tab")
        workbook.easy_getSheetAt(1).setSheetName("Second tab")

        ' Protect first sheet 
        workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0).setSheetProtected(True)
        
        ' Get the table of data for the first worksheet
        Dim xlsFirstTab As ExcelWorksheet = workbook.easy_getSheetAt(0)
        Dim xlsFirstTable = xlsFirstTab.easy_getExcelTable()

        ' Create the formatting style for the header
        Dim xlsStyleHeader As New ExcelStyle("Verdana", 8, True, True, Color.Yellow)
        xlsStyleHeader.setBackground(Color.Black)
        xlsStyleHeader.setBorderColors(Color.Gray, Color.Gray, Color.Gray, Color.Gray)
        xlsStyleHeader.setBorderStyles(Border.BORDER_MEDIUM, Border.BORDER_MEDIUM, _
                                                      Border.BORDER_MEDIUM, Border.BORDER_MEDIUM)
        xlsStyleHeader.setHorizontalAlignment(Alignment.ALIGNMENT_CENTER)
        xlsStyleHeader.setVerticalAlignment(Alignment.ALIGNMENT_BOTTOM)
        xlsStyleHeader.setWrap(True)
        xlsStyleHeader.setDataType(DataType.STRING)

        ' Add data in cells for report header
        For column As Integer = 0 To 4
            xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(0, column).setValue("Column " & (column + 1))
            xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(0, column).setStyle(xlsStyleHeader)
        Next
        xlsFirstTable.easy_getRowAt(0).setHeight(30)

        ' Add data in cells for report values
        For row As Integer = 0 To 99
            For column As Integer = 0 To 4
                xlsFirstTable.easy_getCell(row + 1, column).setValue("Data " & (row + 1) & ", " & (column + 1))
            Next
        Next

        ' Create a formatting style for cells
        Dim xlsStyleData As New ExcelStyle
        xlsStyleData.setHorizontalAlignment(Alignment.ALIGNMENT_LEFT)
        xlsStyleData.setForeground(Color.DarkGray)
        xlsStyleData.setWrap(False)
        xlsStyleData.setDataType(DataType.STRING)
        ' Protect cells
        xlsStyleData.setLocked(True)
        xlsFirstTable.easy_setRangeStyle("A2:E101", xlsStyleData)

        ' Set column widths
        xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(0, 70)
        xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(1, 100)
        xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(2, 70)
        xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(3, 100)
        xlsFirstTable.setColumnWidth(4, 70)

        ' Create Excel file
        Console.WriteLine("Writing file C:\Samples\Tutorial06 - protect Excel sheet.xlsx.")
        workbook.easy_WriteXLSXFile("C:\Samples\Tutorial06 - protect Excel sheet.xlsx")

        ' Confirm the creation of Excel file
        Dim sError As String = workbook.easy_getError()
        If (sError.Equals("")) Then
            Console.Write(vbCrLf & "File successfully created. Press Enter to Exit...")
        Else
            Console.Write(vbCrLf & "Error encountered: " & sError & vbCrLf & "Press Enter to Exit...")
        End If
        
        ' Dispose memory
        workbook.Dispose()
        
        Console.ReadLine()

    End Sub

End Module

EasyXLS Excel libraries:

.NET
Excel Library for VB.NET
full .NET version to import, export or convert Excel files
Excel Writer for VB.NET
.NET version to create and export Excel files
Download EasyXLS™ Excel Library for VB.NET

File formats:

MS Excel 97 - 2003
MS Excel 2007 - 2019
MS Excel 2021
Office 365
XLSXXLSMXLSBXLS
XMLHTMLCSVTXT