Random Locked cells

L

Leonard Mack

I am having a problem with a spreadsheet that has random cells locked. The only way to unlock them is to copy and paste a blank cell that isn't locked into the cell that is locked, but this doesn't always work either

Has anyone had this type of problem? Any ideas

Thanks

Leonar
[email protected]
 
R

Ron de Bruin

Hi Leonard

Maybe I don't understand you correct but
if you select a cell or cells and right click on it
and choose Format Cells you can change the locked
on the Protection Tab

--
Regards Ron de Bruin
(Win XP Pro SP-1 XL2000-2003)




Leonard Mack said:
I am having a problem with a spreadsheet that has random cells locked. The only way to unlock them is to copy and paste a
Click to expand...
blank cell that isn't locked into the cell that is locked, but this doesn't always work either.
 
L

Leonard Mack

Most of the time I am unable to unprotect the cell.

Also, it is just randomly locking the cells. I don't quite understand what is causing it.

Some days it will be all in one column, other days they will be all over the place.
 
D

Dave Peterson

When you want to empty a cell, do you Edit|clear|contents?
(same as the delete key)

Or do you edit|clear|All?

If you do edit|clear|all, then you may be locking the unlocked cells.

Clear says to reset the cell to its default style (normal).

If you look at the normal style (format|style), you'll see that by default, the
cell is locked.

I think you have two choices--stop using edit|clear|all!
or change the default style to ignore the Protection property.
(Just uncheck the option--don't change it to unlocked.)

===
These styles are workbook level changes--not all of excel.

You could create a workbook template named book.xlt and save it into your
XLStart folder with the normal style of your choice. Then all new workbooks
will inherit this style from the default template.
 
Z

Zygoid

it is my understanding that all cells with formulas are automaticall
locked, i could be wrong, but the best way to unlock a cell is t
highlight the cell, goto format > cells > protection tab and unchec
the "locked". you could also highlite the whole page and unlock all th
cells
 
D

Dave Peterson

I think it depends on the user's setting in the default style--but I've never
changed it and I would assume that most (many??) are like me in that respect.

But it's not just cells with formulas--it's all the cells.

And when I'm locking/unlocking cells, I try to get a bunch and format them all
at once.

And I've dropped the "lock cell" icon onto my favorite toolbar.

tools|customize|Commands tab
format category
(almost at the bottom)

It makes it quicker than mousing Format|cells|protection tab (or even
ctrl-1|protection tab).
 
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