Secure Visual Basic for Applications code with a password

To prevent someone from viewing or making changes to your Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code, you can protect the code by requiring a password.

1. Open the Microsoft Access project (.adp) file or Microsoft Access database (.mdb) file that has the VBA code you want to protect.
2. In the Database window, point to Macro on the Tools menu, and then click Visual Basic Editor.

   Tip

   You can also press ALT+F11.

3. In the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor, click <Access database or Access project name> Properties on the Tools menu.
4. On the Protection tab, select the Lock project for viewing check box. If you set a password but don't select Lock project for viewing, the code can be viewed and edited by anyone, but the Project Properties dialog box is protected.
5. In the Password box, type your password.

   Guidelines for passwords

   User names can range from 1 to 20 characters, and can include alphabetic characters, accented characters, numbers, spaces, and symbols, with the following exceptions:

   • The characters " \ [ ] : | < > + = ; , . ? *
   • Leading spaces
   • Control characters (ASCII 10 through ASCII 31)

   Note   Passwords are case-sensitive.

6. In the Confirm password box, confirm your password by typing the password again, and then click OK.

   The password is now set. The next time you or any other user opens the database, a dialog box will be displayed that requests a password.

   Important   If you forget your password, it can't be recovered, and you won't be able to view or edit the VBA code.