Forum Discussion
Allowing Filter in Protected sheet
Rissky1 You're right, but I've got it! I tried unlocking your sheet, but the password didn't work. I used the below solution and it worked for me.
Step 1: Make cells editable so that sorting will work.
Add cells we want to sort by a range and make that range editable in “Allow Users to Edit Ranges.” This allows users to edit these cells when the worksheet is protected, even if they are locked cells.
1.Select all the cells you would like the user to be able to sort, including their column headings.
2.Go to the Data tab and click Filter. An arrow should appear next to each column header.
3.Go to Review tab-> Allow Users to Edit Ranges 1.Click “New…”
2.Give the range a title.
3.“Refers to Cells” should already contain the cells you want to allow sorting on.
4.If you want to allow only certain people to sort, give the range a password.
5.Click “OK”
Step 2: Prevent users from editing these cells
When protecting the worksheet, uncheck “Select Locked Cells” worksheet protection property. This will prevent users from editing the cells.
1.In the “Allow Users to Edit Ranges” dialog: 1.Click “Protect Sheet…”
2.Give the worksheet a password
3.Uncheck the worksheet protection property called “Select Locked Cells”
4.Check the “Sort” property and the “AutoFilter” properties
5.Click “OK”
Source: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_excel-mso_other-mso_o365b/sort-edit-range-protected-sheet-errors-in-excel/8d50d3a4-d25b-44c1-8168-c41bd87c4c57
Let's say you have 10 columns.
1. Select Ctrl+A and format cells -> Protection -> Uncheck Locked
- Filter only first row
2. Select the cells that you need to be protected from editing. And then format cells -> Protection -> Check Locked
3. Select the first row -> Go to Review -> Allow edit in ranges -> ok -> Protect Sheet -> check 1. select locked cells 2. select unlocked cells 3. Sort 4. Auto filter
This should help u filter and sort. but also edit if needed.
I hope i have helped u.
I have made progress since the original post. Users can now sort for specifics - like sort to find all records of one state. What they can't do is sort by alpha or numerical. They can't use filter to put the date in A-Z or low to high or anything that reorders the entire s/sheet.
Attached is an example of what I mean. It's protected - password is the same word as in column B - Randel.
Rissky1 the cells are locked. please unlock, then u will be able to sort it.
naveensrinivas21 Well the cells are obviously locked for a reason. The point is to not let users change individual cells and corrupt the data. Sorting doesn't do that so I want to permit sorting but not allow cell changes on locked cells.
A clarification: there is actually a point to not allowing wholesale sorting - there are instances where formulas (and functions) use specific cell locations, and sorting changes what data is in those locations, invalidating the formula results. Filtering does not change what data is where, just what is displayed, therefore it doesn't change the locations to which the formulas are pointed.