What I am actually trying to do is to link data from a protected workbook (so
a user can give a password in the save as tools general options menue)
into another workbook to consolidate different users information.

Unfortunately, the consolidation workbook only updates the data when you
type in the password of the data entry workbook (which makes the password
useless). Is there a way to link data with this protection mechanism?

If not, what would work for me is to use the protect worksheet function and
hide the columns before protecting it. My second question then is ...

Is there a way to write a macro doing the following:
- close a data group
- prompt a user to enter the data sheet protection password
- (probably you need to type it again to verify)
- save the document
- close the document

any help is greatly appreciated.
Andreas