Forum Discussion
Christina333
May 17, 2021Copper Contributor
Lock cell without protecting worksheet
Hi all, Hope everyone is doing well there. I would like to seek advise from experts here on how to 'lock certain cells without protecting the worksheet.' Is it possible to do so? My compa...
SnowMan55
Nov 03, 2022Bronze Contributor
Important to remember: The words "protect" and "protected" have a general meaning, but Microsoft, in the context of Excel, has a specific meaning when referring to protecting (technical sense) a worksheet. It may be easy to confuse the two.
<< I don't want to protect the entire worksheet. I only want to lock the formula in specific cells... >>
I'm certainly no expert on the protection (general sense or technical sense) of worksheets and cells. But it does not help that Excel terminology is misleading: using a "Locked" property to indicate the equivalent of having a physical lock installed, and "protect the worksheet" as the equivalent of locking all the existing physical locks (among other changes in behavior). Let me emphasize this: Protecting a worksheet (Excel technical sense for changing one property of a worksheet that affects the ability of users/software to change its contents, change the visibility of rows and columns, and other things) may cause all of its cells to be protected (general sense) from a change of content (and that's the default) ... or it may cause only some of the cells to be protected (general sense) from a change of content (if only some of the cells have a format of Locked).
So regarding << The software they are running won't work with the worksheet protected >>, I have to wonder how many of these are true (multiple choice):
- The software won't work when the worksheet is protected and all of the cells are locked.
- The software won't work when the worksheet is protected and some of the cells (those which are directly used by the software) are locked.
- The software won't work when the worksheet is protected and some of the cells (none of which are directly used by the software) are locked.
- The software won't work when the worksheet is protected and none of the cells are locked.
I can readily believe that #1 and #2 are true, but the others ...? And even for #1 and #2, there may be workarounds, such as changing the worksheet protection and or cell locking at times via VBA.
<< Every explanation given in this thread shows protecting worksheet as the last step >>
No. Reread the 17 May 2021 post by Hans. The only use of "protect" in his post is in the general sense.
I understand your situation if you are not willing or not allowed to use VBA in your relevant workbooks. But if you are not limited that way, you have two options for protecting (general sense) your formulas.
teelahk32
Nov 03, 2022Copper Contributor
I actually followed the steps you guys posted including #5 It works perfect for the form we are using. I appreciate the help and this will make life a little easier for my coworker who inputs the time card info and for myself with less forms needing the formulas added back when they get erased by accident! The info you guys provided to us all is excellent and helps keep alive a program they say they have "put to bed". Thanks again for the info!!