Cursor Behavior Changed

[JimS]

I'm working on my sheet and when I hit enter after entering a row of
data it would take me to the beginning of the next row. (I have no
idea what I did to change that.) .Now it just goes to the next cell.
So I went into options>advanced>after selecting enter move cursor>

I get the following options up: down: left: right

I can't get it to function the way it was previously. It will only
move one cell now in either of those directions.

Is there a way to get it back?

 

[Gord Dibben]

Jim

Excel never worked that way by default.

Tab, Tab, Tab then ENTER will take you back to column you started from and 1
row down.

ENTER key must be set to "move down".

If you had Columns A:F unlocked and the sheet protected, ENTER key would
move you across A to F then back to A, 1 row down.

ENTER key must be set to "move right"


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[JimS]

I found this thread online where someone describes my same exact
problem, but I don't see any resolution. When my sheet is not
protected it works fine, taking me back to the beginning of the row,
one row down. But when it's protected, it just takes me one cell
down--not back to the beginning of the row.

http://tinyurl.com/57q4da

 

[Gord Dibben]

That is unfortunate.

Have you set the ENTER key to move right?


Gord

 

[JimS]

Yes. The problem has to do with the protection. I had to rethink
things. I was able to construct a workaround. It had to do with the
WAY I protected my sheet.

On my sheet I have two tables on the top. Data is entered underneath.
Previously I protected (locked and hidden) the two tables and any
columns where I didn't want the user to enter data.

My solution: I moved the tables out of the way and unprotected the
entire sheet. I then protected (locked and hidden) the entire sheet.
Now I unproteced the first 8 columns where users enter data. I moved
the tables back where they were originally and protected any misc
cells, rows or columns I might have left out.

Now when I tab it goes across like before except when I get to the end
of the row hitting tab now takes me to the beginning cell in the next
row down. I have enter set to left so you can go back and correct
data entry errors. By protecting in this fashion I was able to solve
the problem.

Perhaps this is the way I should have been protecting all along.