how can I hide the contents of a cell so others cannot see it

G

Guest

I have a need to hide sensitive information without protecting the sheet,
hiding the column (or row), and without using white text (If a user selects
the cell, then text can be seen.) Using the hide cell protection option will
not work unless the sheet is protected and would disallow the entry of other
data.
 
G

Gord Dibben

Russell

Excel's internal protection is very weak so the general rule is........if you
don't want someone to see data, don't include it in the workbook.

With that warning in mind, you can protect and hide just certain cells while the
sheet is protected.

By default, all cells are protected when sheet protection is enabled.

Hit CTRL + a(twice in 2003) to select all cells.

Format>Cells>Protection. Uncheck "locked"

Select the cells you want protected and hidden and Format>Cells>Protection

Check "locked" and "hidden".

Tools>Protection>Protect Sheet. Note the options when protecting.

Supply a password and OK.

I reiterate..........this is very weak protection. Internal protection
passwords are easily cracked.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Fri, 2 Mar 2007 19:05:39 -0800, Russell A Fowler <Russell A
 
G

Guest

If it's sensitive information that the user should not see, setting the cell
as hidden and protecting the sheet might be the only secure way to do it.
Protecting the sheet does not necessarily prevent data entry. As long as the
data entry cells remain unlocked, users can modfiy the data on those cells
even if the sheet is protected.
 
G

Gord Dibben

Whoops!

Forgot to deal with the contents of the cells you want hidden.

The "hidden" property just hides the content in the formula bar.

To hide the cell contents on the sheet, before you lock them,
Format>Cells>Number>Custom ;;; that's 3 semi-colons.


Gord
 
G

Guest

Thanks for your answer. You've confirmed what I would happen if I used that
method.
 
G

Guest

Thanks for the info. I was not aware of the format ";;;". Your answers may
very well work for me. I'll try it.
 

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