skip cells on data entry

[Dan Wilson]

Good day. I am using Excel 2002. I have a worksheet that
uses 792 cells (44 rows of 18 columns each). Of these 792
cells, 103 require data to be entered to accomplish my
goal.

The cells requiring data entry are not all in one row or
one cell which would make the data input easy.

Is there a way to control the movement of the cursor so
that the cursor moves from each completed cell to the next
cell requiring data entry?

Thanks for any help,
Danno...

 

[Biff]

Hi Danno!

One way to accomplish that is to use sheet protection.
There are some disadvantages to using this method but you
can try it out and see if it meets your needs.

Select all 103 of the cells that require data input and
give them a defined name such as: Range

With all those cells still selected do:
Format>Cells>Protection Tab and uncheck the Locked box.

Now do: Tools>Protection>Allow Users To Edit Ranges
Click the New button.
In the Refers to cells box, enter the name you gave to
those cells, such as: =Range
Click OK
You really don't need to apply password permissions so
just click Apply then the Protect Sheet button.
In the next dialogue that opens, you don't need to apply a
password so in the Allow All Users ....box, uncheck
everything except Select Unlocked Cells.
Click OK.

Now, when you want to enter data in only those certain
cells just use the tab key instead of the enter key. Type
your data, hit tab, you'll move to the next selected cell.

See if that is acceptable.

Biff

 

[Gord Dibben]

Biff/Danno

I believe you will find that selecting 103 non-contiguous cells and trying to
define a name for that range will fail due to the 255 character limit in the
"refers to" dialog.

If the cells are in a left to right, top to bottom configuration the cell
unlock and sheet protect will cycle through when TAB key is used.

No need for the "allow users to edit ranges".

Gord Dibben Excel MVP