1. MS Excel
Protect a workbook file from viewing or
editing
On the File menu, click Save As.
On the Tools menu, click General Options.
Do either or both of the following:
1. If you want users to enter a password
before they can view the workbook, type a
password in the Password to open
box, and then click OK.
2. If you want users to enter a password
before they can save changes to the
workbook, type a password in the
Password to modify box, and then click
OK.
3. When prompted, retype your passwords
to confirm them.
4. Click Save.
5. If prompted, click Yes to replace the
existing workbook.
MS Access - continued
Create, change, or remove passwords (MDB)
Note The information in this topic applies only to a Microsoft
Access database (.mdb).
Set a password in an Access database (.mdb)
You can provide limited protection for your database by adding a
password to restrict which users can open the database.
Microsoft Access stores the database password in an
unencrypted form. If this will compromise the security of sensitive
data in the database, you should use user-level security instead
of a database password.
Caution
If you lose or forget your password, it can't be recovered,
and you won't be able to open your database.
Do not use a database password if you will be replicating
a database. Replicated databases can't be synchronized
if database passwords are defined.
1. Close the database. If this is a shared database, make
sure all other users have closed the database.
2. Make a backup copy of the database, and store it in a
secure place.
3. On the File menu, click Open.
4. Click the arrow to the right of the Look In box, select the
drive and folder where the Microsoft Access database
(.mdb) is located, and then click the database's icon.
5. Click the arrow to the right of the Open button, and then
click Open Exclusive.
6. On the Tools menu, point to Security, and then click Set
Database Password.
7. In the Password box, type your password.
Notes
A database password is stored with the database and not
with the workgroup information file.
If a table from a password-protected database is linked,
the password is cached (saved) in the database it is
linked to when the link is established. This will allow
anyone to see your data.
Microsoft Access is a complex programme that allows
you to set security and passwords for a number of
elements, at different levels.
Outlined is a standard set up of protecting a Database
file from being opened. If you require more detailed
security such as;
Securing Database Objects with user – level security
Securing Visual Basic code
Security in a multi user environment
Please view the help files within Access.
MS Access

2. The Institute recommends that any documents that contain sensitive data
should be password protected. This informative guide is here to help you
create password protected documents within the Microsoft Office Environment.
Protecting Office Documents
Introduction
Protecting Documents Pamphlet Version 1.0(05) - Author Karen Baker (Technical Librarian) Information Technology
PC / MAC
To contact us at IT
please call the Helpdesk on 4444 or
email: IThelpdesk@icr.ac.uk
Or visit our web page at
http://intra.icr.ac.uk/it/it.htm.
Security Use strong passwords that combine upper- and
lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Weak passwords
don't mix these elements. Strong password: Y6dh!et5. Weak
password: House27. Use a strong password that you can
remember so that you don't have to write it down.
1. Open the file.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click
Security.
3. Do one of the following:
Create a password to open
1. In the Password to open box, type a password,
and then click OK.
2. In the Re-enter password to open box, type the
password again, and then click OK.
Create a password to modify
3. In the Password to modify box, type a password,
and then click OK.
4. In the Re-enter password to modify box, type the
password again, and then click OK.
In Microsoft Office, a password-protected
document cannot be recovered if the password for
that document is lost or forgotten. Microsoft does
not offer a service to retrieve documents to which
passwords have been added, nor does it offer any
information regarding such services or processes.
Microsoft Word
MS PowerPoint
Open the presentation you want to create a password for.
On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Security tab.
Do one of the following:
1. To require a password to open a presentation, in
the Password to open box, type a password, and
then click OK.
2. To require a password to modify a presentation, in
the Password to modify box, type a password, and
then click OK.
Note Setting a modify password allows others who do not
know the password to view the presentation, but prevents
them from making any changes to the presentation.
3. In the Confirm Password dialog box, type the
password again, and then click OK.
Protecting PowerPoint Presentations
In Microsoft Office, a password-
protected document cannot be
recovered if the password for that
document is lost or forgotten. Microsoft
does not offer a service to retrieve
documents to which passwords have
been added, nor does it offer any
information regarding such services or
processes.