Spreadsheet Sentry Operation

Spreadsheet Sentry Encoder

The Encoder has a wizard-style interface, with a minimum of parameters and settings required to encode any standard spreadsheet.  When encoding, you can determine who will be allowed to use your spreadsheet by specifying the required authorization modes.

To encode a spreadsheet:

• Load the Encoder and select the target spreadsheet
• Select who will be allowed to use the encoded spreadsheet
• Select formula encryption mode
• Optionally set various advanced parameters
• The Encoder will create a new encoded spreadsheet containing encrypted formulas, without altering the original spreadsheet in any way

This encoding process only needs to be carried out once per spreadsheet (unless the original spreadsheet is later updated).  After encoding, the spreadsheet may be distributed as required.

Authorized spreadsheet users should notice little change to the spreadsheet, except that they will not be able to view any of the original formulas, and certain cell display values may be hidden.  However, unauthorized users (including otherwise authorized users who have copied the spreadsheet to an unauthorized location) will not be able to operate the spreadsheet - encrypted formulas will not calculate, encrypted data will not display, and hidden cells will display as #Hidden!

Spreadsheet Sentry Client Add-In

A Spreadsheet Sentry Client Add-In is required to use encoded spreadsheets.  Client licenses are company-specific, and always relate to a specific Encoder license.  This prevents, for example, Company A from using Company B's encoded spreadsheets.

Provided:

• you have installed and validated an Spreadsheet Sentry Client on your PC
• a spreadsheet has been encoded and configured for use on your PC

opening and using the encoded spreadsheet should be as simple as using the equivalent unencoded spreadsheet.  However, you will be prevented from viewing or editing any encrypted formulas or hidden cell values.  In addition, you may not be able to make 'structural' changes that affect the spreadsheet's integrity and consistency, for example moving or deleting encrypted formulas, and deleting or inserting rows or columns that could affect encrypted formulas.  Formulas will still calculate as normal, and calculated results will display and print as normal.  Slower calculation times may be noticed for large or complex spreadsheets, due to the security encryption system overhead.

Unauthorized users (including normally authorized users who have copied the spreadsheet to a PC without a validated Client license) will find that the spreadsheet will not operate unless the person encoding the spreadsheet has specifically allowed use on all PCs.