Cannot set Locked-property despite UserInterFaceOnly=True and no merged cells - vba

Question

I am setting the Locked property of a small range, but the code fails with the familiar 1004 cannot set the Locked property of the Range class, similar to this problem.
The range in question does not contain any merged cells
My sheet is locked with UserInterFaceOnly=True
I am out of ideas - how can I find out what is causing this to fail?
EDIT: I failed to mention that I am locking the sheet, saving it, closing and re-opening - and the code for setting the Locked-property is triggered in Workbook_Open.
This leads to a design issue caused by the fact that re-opening the workbook removes the interface-only protection, leaving the entire sheet protected. Thanks to #CLR for putting me on that path, and credit goes to him if he decides to submit it as an answer.
Lock code:
Sub LockSheet()
If ws1.ProtectContents = False Then ws1.Protect Password:="1", UserInterFaceOnly:=True
End Sub
Code snippet that fails when the sheet is protected (but works if I unprotect the sheet):
With summaryRange
.Locked = Not (someBoolVar) ' <-- 1004 Cannot set Locked etc.
.FormulaHidden = Not (someBoolVar)
End With
where summaryRange is qualified and working in other parts of the code:
Set summaryRange = ws1.Range(firstSummaryColumn & "4:" & lastSummaryColumn & lastRow)
& also verified working by the compiler:
? Module1.summaryRange.Address
$J$4:$M$50

Answer 1

I have tried to reproduce your problem and can't, using the below subs to mimic your code.
Sheet protection:
Sub LockSheet()
Dim ws1 As Worksheet
Set ws1 = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1")
If ws1.ProtectContents = False Then
ws1.Protect Password:="1", UserInterFaceOnly:=True
Else
ws1.Unprotect Password:="1"
End If
End Sub
Range locking:
Sub lockit()
Dim ws1 As Worksheet
Set ws1 = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1")
Dim someBoolVar As Boolean
someBoolVar = True
Dim summaryRange As Range
Set summaryRange = ws1.Range("$J$4:$M$50")
With summaryRange
.Locked = Not someBoolVar ' <-- No error triggered here
.FormulaHidden = Not someBoolVar
End With
End Sub
Possible causes:
Your summaryRange is not properly defined: you have debunked this in your Q.
Something fishy is happening with the sheet locking: I have debunked this above.
Your someBoolVar is not properly defined. Note in my above code, I have defined someBoolVar as True, and the code works. Try debugging ?someBoolVar in the immediate window to see what it is before it is used. Edit: you have debunked this too.
Edit:
As suggested in the comments, your issue is probably that the UserInterfaceOnly flag gets reset to False when the workbook is closed. To sidestep this, you will have to re-apply the protection when the workbook opens. This sub will achieve that:
Sub reprotect()
' Called from the Workbook_Open event
' Cycle through sheets
Dim sh As Worksheet
For Each sh In ThisWorkbook.Sheets
' If protected, reprotect to reset UserInterfaceOnly flag
If sh.ProtectContents = True Then
sh.Unprotect Password:="1"
sh.Protect Password:="1", UserInterfaceOnly:=True
End If
Next sh
End Sub
Fortunately, the Locked property of ranges is not affected by the workbook being closed, so you will not have to re-apply that condition again!
The Office VBA documentation doesn't address this problem, but the VB documentation (often comparable) in fact does:
If you apply this method with the UserInterfaceOnly argument set to true and then save the workbook, the entire worksheet (not just the interface) will be fully protected when you reopen the workbook. To re-enable the user interface protection after the workbook is opened, you must again apply this method with UserInterfaceOnly set to true.