How to prevent users from referencing to locked cell in Excel

[jv2309]

Is there a way to prevent users from referencing to locked cells? Or prevent them from typing in a reference formula whatsoever?

[#2]

@jv2309 go to review tab, then protect sheet, then in dialog box just uncheck the select locked cells, then your locked cells cant be selected by the user 

[#3]

Thanks for the answer! However, let's say I've locked and hidden all cells in column F, I can still access the value by typing in "=F15" (for example) in an unlocked cell. Is there any way to avoid this? I tried to add a choice list so the user can't just type anything in the unlocked cell, but that doesn't work if the value in the locked "F" column has a value that's also an option in the choice list. I'd like to just prevent to let the user type a reference formula overall, is there a way to do this?

[#4 · Accepted solution]

The closest I could come was to format the unprotected cells as text. That would prevent the user from entering a working formula into the cell whilst allowing data input, albeit as text.

[#5]

This worked for me. Thanks!