VBA - Saving a workbook without ability to change content - vba

Question

I have a macro which create a copy of a workbook in VBA. I want this copy "Read Only", but the property ReadOnly := True doesn't work.
Here's the code:
The first macro:
Sub SaveXL()
Dim Nom2 As String
Dim Jour2 As String
Dim FPath2 As String
Jour2 = Format(Now(), "yyyymmdd - h\hmm")
Nom2 = Jour2 & " Pricelist"
FPath2 = Sheets("PARAM").Range("B33").Value
On Error GoTo fin4
fichier = Application.GetSaveAsFilename(FPath2 & Nom2, "Fichiers Excel (*.xls), *.xls")
If fichier <> "Faux" Then
ActiveWorkbook.SaveCopyAs fichier
VBA.SetAttr fichier, vbReadOnly
Test GetAName(fichier)
Else
MsgBox "Le fichier n'a pas été enregistré"
End If
Exit Sub
fin4: MsgBox "La création de l'excel a échoué"
End Sub
The second:
Sub Test(targetWorkbookName As String)
Dim F As Integer, C As Integer, derniereligne
Dim targetWorkbook As Workbook
On Error Resume Next
Set targetWorkbook = Workbooks(targetWorkbookName)
On Error GoTo 0
If (targetWorkbook Is Nothing) Then _
Set targetWorkbook = Workbooks.Open(Filename := targetWorkbookName, ReadOnly := True)
For F = 1 To Sheets.Count
ActiveSheet.Select
For C = 15 To 2 Step -1
ActiveSheet.Columns(C).Select
Selection.End(xlDown).Select
derniereligne = ActiveCell.Row
If ActiveSheet.Columns(C).Hidden = True Then
ActiveSheet.Columns(C).Delete
End If
Next C
Next F
Application.DisplayAlerts = False
Sheets("PARAM").Delete
ActiveWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range(Array("Button 2")).Select
Selection.Delete
ActiveWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Shapes.Range(Array("Button 9")).Select
Selection.Delete
targetWorkbook.SaveAs Filename:=targetWorkbookName, FileFormat:=xlOpenXMLWorkbook
End Sub

Answer 1

If you want to make the workbook un-saveable you can do the following instead:
In the ThisWorkbook module use:
Private Sub Workbook_BeforeSave(ByVal SaveAsUI As Boolean, Cancel As Boolean)
Cancel = True
End Sub
Then got to the immediate window (press Ctrl + G) and type:
Application.EnableEvents = False - hit Enter
ThisWorkbook.Save - hit Enter
Application.EnableEvents = True - hit Enter
Now when a user tries to save the workbook it will simply cancel the save, meaning the data can't be permanently overwritten.

Answer 2

ActiveWorkbook.ChangeFileAccess Mode:=xlReadOnly

Answer 3

Read-only is a file system permission not one controlled by Excel
Read-only recommended is the Excel controlled version of it in with the user is prompted to open it as read-only (but they can choose no).
To save a copy of a workbook as read-only recommended you need to: -
Save a copy using SaveCopyAs
Open the copy
Save the copy using SaveAs with the property ReadOnlyRecommended set to true
Delete the previous copy made in the first instruction
Below is a small example of this:-
Public Sub Make_Copy_ReadOnlyRec()
Dim WkBk As Excel.Workbook
'Using SaveCopyAs
ThisWorkbook.SaveCopyAs Environ("UserProfile") & "\Desktop\Temp.xlsm"
'Open the copy
Set WkBk = Application.Workbooks.Open(Environ("UserProfile") & "\Desktop\Temp.xlsm")
'Use save as to make it read only recommended
WkBk.SaveAs Environ("UserProfile") & "\Desktop\Sample.xlsm", XlFileFormat.xlOpenXMLWorkbookMacroEnabled, , , True
'Close the now read only recommended copy
WkBk.Close
Set WkBk = Nothing
'Delete the original copy
Kill Environ("UserProfile") & "\Desktop\Temp.xlsm"
End Sub