SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to use the
SpecialCells method in a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro or procedure in Microsoft Excel, you may receive the following error message:
Run-time error '1004':
You cannot use this command on a protected sheet. To unprotect the
sheet, use the Unprotect Sheet command (Tools menu, Protection
submenu). You may be prompted for a password.
WORKAROUND
To work around this behavior use one of the following methods.
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Method 1: Unprotect the Worksheet
If the
SpecialCells method is used on a worksheet with the contents
protected, the macro produces the error message described in the "Symptoms" section. To avoid this error message, unprotect the sheet before using the
SpecialCells method. Reapply the protection after the cells have been selected. This sample macro unprotects the sheet, selects all blank cells in the used range, and then protects the sheet:
Sub Test3()
ActiveSheet.Unprotect
Selection.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeBlanks).Select
ActiveSheet.Protect DrawingObjects:=True, Contents:=True, _
Scenarios:=True
End Sub
NOTE: If the worksheet is protected by a password, you must supply the password as an argument for the
Unprotect method.
Method 2: Use the SendKeys Statement
The
SpecialCells constant
xlCellTypeLastCell has a keyboard equivalent that can be selected by pressing a specific key combination. You can use this constant to select the last cell in the used range by using the
SpecialCells method. This operation can be simulated on the worksheet by pressing CTRL+END. Using the
SendKeys statement, a macro can simulate this key combination.
The following sample macro provides a simulation of pressing CTRL+END, and it operates when the worksheet contents are protected:
Sub Test1()
Application.SendKeys "^{END}"
End Sub
REFERENCES
For more information about how to use the sample code in this article, click
the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:
212536
OFF2000: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles
For more information about keyboard commands, click
Microsoft Excel Help on the
Help menu, type
keyboard shortcuts in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click
Search to view the topic.