1. You need to unprotect and re-protect as you suggest. I suggest yo
record macros of your various expand/collapse requirements and supply
method via a custom dialog box or buttons to run them. You can make
custom toolbar, attach it to a workbook and save and close. Deletin
the toolbar will then make it only available with that workbook.

2. API calls will have no application in this context because you
requirements apply to Excel, rather than to the general Windows system

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