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.)

Beverly Darvill wrote:

I have a spreadsheet that as a group of 5 columns grouped together using the
DATA - GROUP option - I want to protect the first colum from entry and allow
figures to be inputted into the other 4 columns - I can do this if I dont
mind seeing all the other columns but I want to collapse them as necessary
but if I protect the relevant cells and then Protect the Sheet it wont let me
collapse the group. Is it possible?

Thanks
Beverly

--

Dave Peterson