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Unlock Excel in Make

What this module does

PDF4me — Unlock Excel removes all password protection from an Excel workbook inside your Make scenario and returns a clean, fully editable file. It handles three independent protection layers — file encryption (password to open), workbook structure protection (sheet add/delete/rename lock), and worksheet content protection (cell editing lock) — with an intelligent password fallback that automatically tries different passwords for each layer in a defined order. One Secure On Open Password can unlock all three layers automatically, so you do not need to manage separate passwords for every protection type.

Authenticating Your API Request​

Every PDF4me Excel module in Make requires a valid Connection. Create or select one that holds your PDF4me API key so the scenario can authenticate unlocking requests securely.

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Important Facts You Should Not Miss​

One password can unlock all three layers
The password fallback system cascades down through layers. Workbook Protection Password falls back to Secure On Open Password; Worksheet Protection Password falls back to Workbook Protection Password, then Secure On Open Password. If your file uses the same password for all three layers, you only need to fill in Secure On Open Password and leave the others empty.
Worksheet Indexes are 1-based
The module hint states "Comma-separated worksheet indexes (1-based) to unlock." The first sheet in the workbook is index 1, the second is 2, and so on — not zero-based. When both Worksheet Names and Worksheet Indexes are provided, the module unlocks the union of sheets matched by either selector. Leave both empty to unlock every worksheet.
Unlock is all-or-nothing — no partial results
If any protection layer cannot be removed with the passwords provided, the entire operation fails with a clear error rather than returning a partially unlocked file. This ensures you always receive a fully editable workbook or a clear failure signal — never a file that is silently still protected in some areas.
Make PDF4me Excel Unlock workbooks module showing Connection set to My PDF4me Excel connection, File set to Map with File Name and Document mapped from step 1, Secure On Open Password set to 56789, Workbook Protection Password set to 3456, Worksheet Protection Password empty, Worksheet Names empty, Worksheet Indexes empty, and Culture Name empty

File set to Map passes the filename and Excel binary from any prior module. Secure On Open Password decrypts the file; Workbook and Worksheet Protection Passwords remove structural and content locks.

Parameters​

Required: Connection, File Name, and Document must always be provided. The three password fields are optional — supply only the ones that match your file's protection layers. Worksheet indexes use 1-based numbering (1 = first sheet).

ParameterRequiredWhat it doesExample
ConnectionYesPDF4me Excel API connection. Click Add and paste your API key if connecting for the first time.My PDF4me Excel connection
File NameYesFilename of the Excel workbook including extension. Map from the prior module's file name output.budget-2025.xlsx
DocumentYesBinary content of the Excel file. Map from the prior module's data output — typically a cloud storage download step.1. Data
Secure On Open PasswordNoRemoves file encryption (Layer 1 — password to open). Also used as fallback password for workbook and worksheet protection layers if their own passwords are not set.Open123!
Workbook Protection PasswordNoRemoves workbook structure protection (Layer 2 — sheet add/delete/rename lock). Falls back to Secure On Open Password if left empty.Struct456
Worksheet Protection PasswordNoRemoves worksheet content protection (Layer 3 — cell/formula editing lock). Falls back to Workbook Protection Password, then Secure On Open Password.Edit789
Worksheet NamesNoComma-separated exact names of worksheets to unlock. Case-sensitive. Combined with Worksheet Indexes. Leave empty to unlock all worksheets.Sheet1,Summary
Worksheet IndexesNoComma-separated 1-based worksheet positions to unlock. Index 1 = first sheet. Combined with Worksheet Names. Leave empty to unlock all worksheets.1,2,3
Culture NameNoCulture/locale code for text rendering and localization during processing. Leave empty for default. Examples: en-US, de-DE, fr-FR.en-US

Quick Setup​

  1. Add PDF4me Excel → Unlock Excel (listed as "Unlock workbooks") to your Make scenario.
  2. Select Connection (or click Add to create one with your PDF4me API key).
  3. Set File to Map and connect File Name and Document from the prior module (cloud storage download, HTTP, or any file source).
  4. Fill in Secure On Open Password if the workbook is encrypted. Add Workbook Protection Password and Worksheet Protection Password only if those layers use different passwords.
  5. Optionally enter Worksheet Names or Worksheet Indexes to target specific sheets — leave both empty to unlock the entire workbook.
  6. Click Save and run the scenario. The output Doc Data field contains the fully unlocked Excel file ready for editing, archiving, or re-protection.

Workflow Examples​

Workflow ExamplesCommon Make scenario patterns using Unlock Excel.
Annual budget template refresh
  1. A scheduled trigger fires on January 1st each year.
  2. SharePoint downloads the protected budget template (password to open + workbook structure locked).
  3. Unlock Excel runs with only Secure On Open Password set — the fallback system automatically removes workbook protection using the same password.
  4. Update Rows inserts the new year's actuals and targets into the unlocked template.
  5. Secure Excel re-protects the file with the updated year password before uploading back to SharePoint.
Nightly master data sync to protected workbook
  1. A scheduled trigger fires at 2 AM every night.
  2. SharePoint downloads the protected master data workbook.
  3. Unlock Excel targets only the data sheets: Worksheet Names set to "Products,Pricing,Inventory".
  4. An HTTP module fetches updated records from the production database API.
  5. Update Rows writes fresh data into the three unlocked sheets.
  6. The updated file is uploaded back to SharePoint, keeping the remaining protected sheets untouched.
Quarterly bulk archive preparation
  1. A scheduled trigger runs on the last day of each quarter.
  2. Google Drive lists all protected Excel files in the active projects folder.
  3. An Iterator loops through each file and downloads it.
  4. Unlock Excel removes all three protection layers using passwords retrieved from a secure vault variable.
  5. The fully unlocked file is moved to the cold-storage archive folder — no password management burden for the archive team accessing it years later.

Frequently Asked Questions​

What are the three protection layers this module removes?+
Layer 1 is file encryption — the password you must enter just to open the workbook. Layer 2 is workbook structure protection — prevents adding, deleting, renaming, or moving sheets. Layer 3 is worksheet content protection — prevents editing cells, formulas, charts, and objects on individual sheets. All three are removed independently; a file can have any combination of the three active at once.
How does the password fallback work in practice?+
For workbook protection, the module tries: no password → Workbook Protection Password → Secure On Open Password. For worksheet protection it tries: no password → Worksheet Protection Password → Workbook Protection Password → Secure On Open Password. This means if your file uses the same password for all three layers, you only need to fill in Secure On Open Password and the fallback chain handles the rest automatically.
Can I unlock only some worksheets and leave others protected?+
Yes. Provide specific sheet names in Worksheet Names (comma-separated, case-sensitive) or 1-based index numbers in Worksheet Indexes. The module unlocks the union of all sheets matched by either field and leaves the rest untouched. Leave both fields empty to unlock every worksheet in the workbook.
What happens if a password is wrong?+
The module exhausts the full fallback sequence for each layer. If no password in the sequence succeeds, the scenario run fails with a clear error message indicating which layer could not be unlocked. The operation is all-or-nothing — you will never receive a file that is silently still protected in some layers.
Does unlocking modify my original file in cloud storage?+
No. PDF4me processes a copy and returns the unlocked workbook in the Doc Data output field. Your source file in SharePoint, Dropbox, Google Drive, or any other storage remains completely untouched and still protected. You control where the unlocked output is saved by connecting the Doc Data output to a subsequent upload module.

Get Help​

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