Protect sheet but allow sorting only

  • Thread starter Thread starter Christina
  • Start date Start date
C

Christina

I'm using Excel 2003, and I've tried to allow only sorting on a protected
sheet. I've tried by choosing Tools, Protection, Protect Sheet. Next, I've
checked the sort check box in the "Allow all users of this worksheet to:"
area. The only other check boxes that are checked are the "Select locked
cells" and "Select unlocked cells" boxes. When I test the protected
worksheet I am still unable to sort. Am I missing something?

Thanks!
 
Christina said:
I'm using Excel 2003, and I've tried to allow only sorting on a protected
sheet. I've tried by choosing Tools, Protection, Protect Sheet. Next,
I've
checked the sort check box in the "Allow all users of this worksheet to:"
area. The only other check boxes that are checked are the "Select locked
cells" and "Select unlocked cells" boxes. When I test the protected
worksheet I am still unable to sort. Am I missing something?

Thanks!
Click to expand...


You have to first unlock the cells in the range you want sorted:
format | cells | protection | uncheck locked

But that will also allow the user to change the data in those cells.
 
I appreciate your response, however, I don't want anyone to be able to edit
the data within that range. Is there a way to allow the user to only sort
when the sheet is protected?

Thanks for your help!
 
The only thing I can think of is to use a macro to unprotect, sort, and then
re-protect the worksheet. I'm 99% sure that the cells themselves must be
unprotected in order to sort them. But maybe someone else here knows
better.
 
Correct.

The range to be sorted must be unlocked before protecting the sheet.

The macro to unprotect, sort and re-protect suggestion is the usual workaround.

The range to be sorted and the criteria are designated in the macro.

Sub sort()
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Password:="justme"
your sort code
ActiveSheet.Protect Password:="justme"
End Sub


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP
 
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