Forum Discussion
Protected sheet won't allow me to add row
I want to protect a sheet where certain columns are locked for the end user. I have locked those columns and have selected which abilities I want the end user to have, such as Insert Row. But when I lock it, it still won't let me insert a row.
No, there is literally no way to do this in Excel - unlike in the much more intelligently designed and user-friendly Google Sheets.
The actual functionality you want is for the end-user to be able to add a new row to the table by clicking the 'Tab' key. That is impossible in Excel, even if you have only a custom range protected and check every single 'allow' box when protecting the sheet. This is because Microsoft's developers are lazy and don't even think about how end-users actually use their products. They have the entire world captive to their operating system, so what is their incentive to actually think and innovate?
Hi Heather,
After locking the cells when you protect the sheet check "Insert rows" option, that will allow users to insert rows on protected sheet. Simular with other options in menu.
If you lock cells in entire column when you are not able to insert rows since that's affect locked cells. If you lock only cells in some range, as in green on picture, when with protected as below sheet you may insert rows outside green area, and no way within it
