If you already have the outline/subtotals/autofilter applied, you can protect
the worksheet in code (auto_open/workbook_open??).

Option Explicit
Sub auto_open()
With Worksheets("sheet1")
.Protect Password:="hi", userinterfaceonly:=True
.EnableOutlining = True
'.EnableAutoFilter = True
'If .FilterMode Then
' .ShowAllData
'End If
End With
End Sub

It needs to be reset each time you open the workbook. (Earlier versions of
excel don't remember it after closing the workbook. IIRC, xl2002+ will remember
the allow autofilter setting under tools|Protection|protect sheet, but that
won't help when you're filtering via code.)

Hamed parhizkar wrote:

I have grouped several lines in a spreadsheet together. Example lines 2-50
are grouped. Lines 51-100 are grouped. On the side of the page excel allows
you to click on the plus or minus to hide or unhide the grouped cells. If i
protect the worksheet the grouping does not work, can this be fixed?

--

Dave Peterson