protect borders

Copper Contributor

Hello, is there a way to protect borders on excel?  We have forms that have different thicknesses in the borders and when people copy and paste, the thickness can change, which makes the whole form look goofy.  Is there a way to let them copy and paste where the border doesn't change?

Thanks

10 Replies
If they do Paste Values the borders won't change

Hi @ginalk2019


I don't believe there's a way to specifically protect borders on Excel. But if anyone knows of this, please let us know!

The workaround for this, as mentioned by @Wyn Hopkins, is to copy your source data and then paste special them into the form.

You can do this via several methods.

After copying your data, you can highlight the data region which you wish to dump your data on, and:

     1) Right-click with the mouse, and select paste special (values only), or;

     2) Use the keyboard shortcut, Alt + E + S + V +Enter

Both of these should work for the problem you're facing right now!


Best,
Justin

As previously mentioned I don't think there is any way of protecting cell borders. The issue with asking people to use paste special is they always forget, so that doesn't really work either. What about a macro that runs on closing the workbook that will reinstate the borders? I assume that the extent of the borders doesn't change much within the form, just the information.

@JustinTanChKg 

 

Justin, few more

If by mouse,

-Add to Quick Access Toolbar icons Copy and Paste Values (Copy is only not to jump from ribbon to QAT) and train people to use them instead of ribbon Copy/Paste.

- right click selected cell/range border, drag it to the destination place and Copy Here as Values Only from appeared, after you release right button, menu.

 

If by keyboard, Ctrl+C => Ctrl+V, Ctrl, Down, Down, Enter.

And I still prefer Ctrl+Ins/Shift+Ins instead of Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V.

My 2 favourites are

Ctrl c, Ctrl v followed by Ctrl then v

Or

Ctrl c, then right click button on keyboard followed by v

@Wyn Hopkins 

 

Wyn, where possible I prefer not to use alphabet buttons with shortcuts - have to look on keyboard to press right button. With other keys I'm practically don't change the focus from the screen on keyboard and back.

 

That's why my variant of your first combination is Shift+Ins instead of Ctrl+V and double Down instead of v.

Hi @Sergei Baklan,


Thanks for expanding on these!

Yes, the QAT is actually a great method as you've mentioned. I completely forgot about this nifty little tool!

Regarding keyboard shortcuts, somehow Alt + E + S +V + Enter feels a lot more intuitive for me. Maybe it's because E and S are right next to each other, and V isn't that far off either. What's more, all 3 letters reside in the left side of the QWERTY keyboard configuration!


Best,
Justin

It's so annoying that you can't protect borders, as they are the mainstay of Excel. Pasting Values is such an inconvenience when I am using large spreadsheets, and I like to use coloured shaded cells a LOT. I have gotten used the my borders being incomplete everywhere - it's such an unprofessional look.

@mrduud 

 

Set up a separate worksheet with the proper formatting for all cells.
(no values or formulas)
Hide the sheet.
Write VBA code to paste the hidden sheet formatting into the messed up sheet.
(just a few lines required)
Add a button to the QAT to run the VBA code or it could be done automatically before each Save.

 

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