How do you lock the formulas but leave the cells workable?

[JackieBaby]

In my workbook I have lots of cells with formulas, one result leads to the next..., I would like to 'lock' the formulas, yet leave the contents, (numbers, names, what have you), available to be altered. Right now when I try to lock the formulas I end up locking the whole sheet and I cant add or alter any data. If I leave them unlocked, and change a value in a formulated cell with out changing the input values, I alter or erase the formula.

Thanks
Jack

[davidh182]

Before protecting the sheet you can select certain cells to be unprotected. [ie the cells without formulas in]

Do this by format cells... Cell protection tab

[JackieBaby]

I have already tried this, but I tried it again. The way the cell protection dialog reads implies that I must protect the sheet, but when I do that then I can't add any data. I want to protect the formulas, but not the sheet. If that makes any sense.

Jack

[David]

You can select the whole sheet by clicking the small rectangle upper left. Choose to unprotect. Select the formulated cells [you'll have to now pick and choose] and format them as protected, then protect the sheet.

HOWEVER ...It is far more normal procedure to select only those active [date or formula] cells you want to unprotect [such as those requiring data entry] and do them separately, rather than this way around. Then protect the sheet, and those cells you chose will still allow data entry.

David.

[JackieBaby]

Thanks to both Davids here. They both make sense once I did it properly. I was going about it wrong before, convinced I was right. People do that all the time!

Thanks again
Jack

[David]

[JackieBaby]

Yeah, we're working on 40 as well but we have aways to go yet. My wife lets me know the same thing!