Workbook Copy Protection

Many users of Microsoft Excel want to sell their solutions as Excel Workbooks. However, because Excel does not provide any algorithms protection then there is a great risk that these solutions and ideas may be copied or simply stolen.

Microsoft Excel provides several ways to protect workbook but not one of them allow to secure algorithms to protect against copying.
Workbook/Worksheet protection is weak and aimed for data protection against accidental damage of workbook data.
In the case of intentional hacking, such protection can not help against theft of algorithms.
Microsoft Excel does not protect algorithms. Formulas in Microsoft Excel Workbook may be reached by different ways.
As long as formulas are not protected then it is enough to copy formulas into the same cells of new workbook and that workbook will contain all your algorithms which may be used for calculation without any limitations.
Microsoft Excel provides two interfaces for accessing internal data workbook. One of them is based on technology of ActiveX/COM and the other is designed for access from XLL add-ins.
Even with basic knowledge of programming in VBA in Excel one can have easy access to the formulas in cells that Excel hides as "hidden formulas".
That is, until the calculation formulas of the workbook performed be excel there are no seious restrictions for crackers who want to steal your algorithms.
Encrypting the workbook with a strong cryptographic cipher also does not give anything because in order to enable your customer's work with the book he need to be provided with a password and then the book can be copied without protection.
There needs to be a separate, secure mechanism for calculating the formula that will stay separate from the workbook and a calculation instead Excel.
This only solution will prevent the possibility of copying algorithms, and then it becomes possible to realize the Excel workbook copy protection.
Such a system was designed and implemented in DoneEx XCell Compiler.
This product converts workbook formula from an easily accessible Excel formula format to its internal binary representation.
The result of the XCell Compiler work is an executable file with ".EXE" extension. All formulas of the workbook are moved into the EXE and converted into binary, unreadable format. All calculations at runtime compiled EXE are done by the embedded calculation engine that works instead of the Excel. Excel is used for formatted representation of calculated values. This solution enables us to go to the next step - workbook copy protection.


WORKBOOK COPY PROTECTION

SOLUTION

The term "copy protection" does not mean that a protected file cannot be copied from one computer to another.
It means that this file can not be used without the express permission of the author. More appropriate term "Digital rights management" or DRM. Copy protection can be achieved by linking workbook with protected formulas to computer hardware. The missing link here is information on the user's computer which author wants to allow the use of. This information is collected in the so-called computer identification number or just "computer id". Computer id number is the unique number which is a special way generated by XCell Compiler using few hardware and system software details. It is used to identify the target computer. In order for the author of the workbook to be able to pinpoint on what computer the protected workbook must work, so for the rest of it will not work. XCell Compiler offers a bind. If you compile workbookenabled the option "Copy protection with registration key" and "Hardware locking" (which means bind to specific computer) then compiled EXE will not work without providing registration key which is generated by author and contains information about target computer where EXE may work. This kind of message customer gets if he will try to start the protected workbook without registration key.

workbook copy protection

The tool called "Registration Key Tool" (which is a part of the workbook copy protection solution) allows you to specify the necessary parameters and generate the registration key, which is required for work.

Moreover, there is the ability of limiting working time of the protected workbook.

DoneEx XCell Compiler - registration key tool


XCell Compiler offers very easy and hassle free workbook copy protection solution.
You can compile Excel spreadsheet (XLS file) into EXE application with securely hidden formulas in binary format and protected VBA code. With registration/license management feature you can protect your compiled Excel workbook from illegal copying from one computer to another by using hardware locking mechanism. It offers you to add your own splash, icon, end user license agreement (EULA) and much more...

Please try the XCell Compiler Free Trial version which is completely functional for calculation.

  XCell Compiler main features:

  • Securely hide formulas by converting them into binary format. Without this feature any kind of Excel file copy protection is useless.
  • Convert Excel workbook (XLS file) into an application (EXE File, which requires Excel to run). You do not need to be a programmer to use the product.
  • VBA code protection.
  • Create registration key/license based application. Prevent illegal copying from one computer to another.
  • Hardware locking! Allow your copy protected workbook to work on target computer only.
  • Royalty free distribution of your copy protected workbook converted into EXE, which doesn't require any preinstalled Run-Time libraries.
  • The original Excel workbook stays without any changes after compilation.
  • Restrict the time period of usage for your copy protected workbook.
  • License expiration warning. Add your own customized expiration message.
  • Run the copy protected workbook without macro security alert
  • Add your own End User License Agreement (EULA) information. The compiled Excel workbook will not be started until the end user accepts the EULA.
  • Save changed data directly into compiled EXE.
  • Create Trial/Demo of Excel workbook limited by amount of days and annoying window.
  • Hide Microsoft Excel on start.
  • Compiled Excel workbook copy protection with Matrix Dongle.
  • Export/Import changed data from/to compiled EXE; Import data into original Excel workbook.
  • Add your own application name, version and copyright information.
  • You can add your own splash screen, while compiling. This will give you a chance to advertise your own company name.
  • Install your Add-ins (XLA files) on your customer's computer.
  • Restrict the access only to authorized individuals, and limits users' activities to the minimum required, for business purposes.
  • Eliminates the chances of exposure of corporate secrets, breaches in customer confidentiality, and the disruption of business activities.
  • Prevents information from being altered in an unauthorized manner.

Download the free trial version of the DoneEx XCell Compiler

workbook copy protection, workboook copy protect