Excel used as order entry template

P

pmarc

As an order entry template we have product prices set up so Quantity
ordered columns allows computing purchase totals. When even have c card
cell, address cell, etc. It works fairly well except we have a lot of
products. Because of this there's a tendency to hit the wrong key on
keyboard while entering an order.

Hitting the wrong key on keyboard can destabilize the spreadsheet.
Columns and headers and so forth must be re-set. It's a sensitive
system.

How do you set up a speadsheet so its parameters like column width and
so forth can't be changed, but still allowing changing the data and
keeping the computations we set up?
 
L

L. Howard Kittle

Check out sheet protection in help. You can leave the cells you need to
make entries into unprotected and the rest of the sheet protected.

HTH
Regards,
Howard
 
P

pmarc

I can only lock the entire sheet. It's all or none. How do I select
specific cells and how do I lock them? Thanx.
 
D

Dave Peterson

Cells are locked or unlocked. You can change the setting by selecting the cells
you want, then Format|Cells|Protection tab|check (or uncheck) Locked.

But the locked-ness of a cell doesn't really mean much until you protect the
worksheet (tools|Protection|protect sheet).

Once the worksheet is protected, then the locked cells can't be changed. The
unlocked cells can have the values changed. (In excel 2002+, you can allow
users to change formatting and other stuff on a protected sheet.)

When I do this kind of stuff, I select all the cells (ctrl-A a few times), then
lock all the cells.

Then I select the range (click on the first cell and ctrl-click on subsequent)
then unlock those.

Then tools|protection|protect sheet.

Be aware that this worksheet protection is easily broken--it's not meant to
protect intellectual property--just to protect the worksheet from user
errors--typing over an important formula (say).
 
P

pmarc

If A:1 - A5 are the locked cells, what is the exact order of
locking/unlocking/locking

And in Tools/Protection/Protect which boxes in Protect Sheet drop-down
are checked off?

I have Excel 2002
 
L

L. Howard Kittle

Select all the cells you want to keep open for input.
Under Format > Cells >Protection > Uncheck locked > OK
Under Tools > Protection > Protect worksheet

So now those selected cells are now available for input and the rest of the
sheet you will get a pop up message alerting you to protection.

HTH
Regards,
Howard
 
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