Sr. No

Formats/Applications

Category

Expected Behavior

1

All/All

Workbook sharing

Workbook sharing is disabled for protected files.

2

All/All

Pivot tables

Pivot tables are available only if the user has the Full Control permission on the file.

3

All/All

Password protection for unprotected files

For unprotected files, Microsoft Office password protection is disabled in Excel if a protected file was opened first. It remains disabled even after the protected file is closed.

If an unprotected file is opened first, Office password protection can be performed from the Save As screen.

4

All/All

Excel linking

When two Excel sheets are linked via a formula, the linked file should be open and the user should have the Full Control permission on it.

5

All/Microsoft Excel 2010, 2013, 2016

Adding new filters

New filters cannot be added unless the user has the Full Control permission on the file. Existing filters can still be used.

6

All/Microsoft Excel 2016

Get & Transform

The features under the Get & Transform group on the Data tab are disabled for protected files.

7

All/Microsoft Excel 2016

3D Maps

This feature is disabled for protected files.

8

All/Microsoft Excel 2016

Power BI

The Power BI service is disabled for protected files.

Sr. No

Category

Expected Behavior

1

Comparing and Merging workbooks

Comparing and Merging workbooks is allowed only if you have the Full Control permission on all open workbooks.

2

Pivot Tables and Charts

You can add pivot tables or charts in a protected workbook only if,

a) You have the same permissions on all open protected files

b) If only one file is open, then you need the View permission on it

3

Linking files: 

Linking (in a formula) to a protected file from an unprotected files is allowed only if you have the Full Control permission on the protected file.

Unprotected to Protected

4

Linking files: 

Linking (in a formula) to a protected file from another protected files is allowed only if

Protected to Protected

a) You have the Copy Data permission on the linked (data) file

b) You have the same or less access permissions on the main (referring) file than on the linked (data) file

c) Both files are protected with the same Policy Server

5

Forced updating of links

Often a protected Excel file contains a formula that refers to another protected Excel file. When opening the main file, the user gets a Seclore prompt asking them to choose whether to update the links or not.

If the user chooses 'Yes' and has valid access (i.e., View and Copy Data permissions) on the linked file, the data will get properly updated in the main file. If they don’t have access, the links will be broken and the files will open in read-only mode.

This is to ensure that proper security is maintained while ensuring usability i.e., data can be taken out of a linked file only if the user has appropriate permissions on it.

6

Workbook sharing

The workbook sharing feature is not available for protected files due to security reasons.

7

Moving or Copying sheets

Moving or copying a sheet from a protected file to any other file is allowed only if you have the Full Control permission on the source file.

8

Copying worksheets within a workbook

For security reasons, making copies of worksheets within the same workbook requires the Full Control permission. 

This action is blocked because a worksheet can be pasted to any external insecure location once it is been copied to the clipboard.

Old Shortcut

Functionality

New Shortcut

Alt + D + F + F

Filter Data

Alt + A +T

Alt + D +S

Sort Data

Alt + A + S + S

Alt + D + P

Create Pivot

Alt + N +V + T

Alt + O + E

Format Cell

Alt + H + F + M

Alt + E + S

Activate ‘Paste Special Box’

Alt + H + V + S

Alt + I + R

Insert new row in worksheet

Alt + H + I + R

Alt + I + C

Insert new column in worksheet

Alt + H + I + C

Alt + I + F

Insert new function

Alt + M + F

Alt + E + M

Edit, Move or Copy Sheet

Alt + H + O + M

Alt + O + R + E

Format Row Height

Alt + H + O + H

Alt + O + C + W

Format Column Width

Alt + H + O + I