Protecting selected cells in a worksheet

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I want to be able to allow others to use an existing worksheet, to complete
information, without allowing them to edit or modify certain cells
 
all cells are protected when you start, but the protection only becomes
active after you use Tools, Protection, Protect Worksheet.
To allow for some cells to be edited, use Format, Protection, Unprotect on
the relevant cells, then protect the worksheet
 
There are 2 steps in protecting cells. One is locking the cells and the other
is protecting the worksheet...

1. Locking the cells - By default every cell in a spreadsheet is locked. You
need to unlock those cells that you want the end users to be able to modify.
This is done by selecting the desired cells and either
choosing Format -> Format Cells -> Protection -> Uncheck Locked
or you can add the Lock icon from Tools -> Customize -> Commands -> Format
Menu to an existing toolbar by dragging it.

2. Protecting the worksheet - Locking a cell does nothing until you protect
the sheet. To protect the sheet select Tools -> Protection -> Protect Sheet
(you can add a password if you wish). Note that even with the sheet protected
even if you add a password a determined end user can unlock the sheet if they
really want to with some simple code from the net...
 
Can this be done in aworksheet that is already complete? When I try to
protect certain cells, all of them are protected and cannot be edited.
 
Hi,

By default all cells in the Workbook are locked. Select a cell or a range
and unlock them befor protect the Worksheet.

Do the following:

1. Click any sheet in the sheet tab and select a range of cells or any
combination of cells by pressing the Ctrl key.
2. Right -click and select Format Cells. The Format Cells dialog box is
displayed.
3. Click the Proctection tab.
4. Clear the Locked check box.
5. Click OK to return to the Worksheet.
6. On the Tools menu, point to Protection, and then click Protect Sheet. The
protect Sheet dialog is displayed.

By default the "Protect worksheet and content of locked cells" are selected.
Enter a password in the "Password to unprotect sheet text box.

7. Verify that the "Select locked cells" and "Select unlocked cells" check
boxes are selected.
8. Click Ok to return to the active worksheet.
9. Onthe File menu, click Save or click Save As.
10. In th Save As dialog box, enter a filename in the filename textbox.
10. Click Save to save the protected file.

Challa Prabhu
 
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