Protect Cells in Excel (Formatting Only)

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I am attempting to protect certain cells on a worksheet from formatting only. I do the following:

1. Select all cells
2. Select Format Cells
3. Activate Protection Tab
4. Clear locked box
5. Click OK
6. Select source cells.
7. Select Format Cells
8. Activate Protection Tab
9. Tick Locked Box.
10. Click ok
11. Select Tools, Protection, Protect Sheet
12. Leave everything checked except the formatting boxes.
13. Add a password.

When I do this, I can’t perform math or change the contents of the cells.

Is it possible to only prevent formatting changes??? This is what I am attempting to do.

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I just want to be sure I am actually answering your question. As I understand it.

You wish to protect cells from formatting changes only. The user should still be able to edit content.

If the above is your question the answer is no. Once cells are protected, their contents can not be changed. Formatting can be enabled on protected cells (the reverse of what you want).

Can you give me more information about the situation. Perhaps there is a better strategy.

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I just want to be sure I am actually answering your question. As I understand it.

You wish to protect cells from formatting changes only. The user should still be able to edit content.

If the above is your question the answer is no. Once cells are protected, their contents can not be changed. Formatting can be enabled on protected cells (the reverse of what you want).

Can you give me more information about the situation. Perhaps there is a better strategy.

Yes –
I have spreadsheet that is formatted a certain way. I update the numbers each month and add columns or rows, but I don’t want any of the row/column formats, for the selected cells, to change.

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Yes –
I have spreadsheet that is formatted a certain way. I update the numbers each month and add columns or rows, but I don’t want any of the row/column formats, for the selected cells, to change.

So, no one else is entering data in the spreadsheet – it is just yourself you wish to protect the file from?

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That’s right – only myself. The reviewer of this has very precise standards. 2 decimal places, dollar signs on the first row and last row, conditional formatted such that less than zero is red, etc. If text is copied and pasted or a formula is entered in row 1 (dollar sign), and then dragged down to rows below the dollar sigh follows. As such, I ‘d like to lock down just/onlyl the formatting.

Apparently, this isn’t possible?

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That’s right – only myself. The reviewer of this has very precise standards. 2 decimal places, dollar signs on the first row and last row, conditional formatted such that less than zero is red, etc. If text is copied and pasted or a formula is entered in row 1 (dollar sign), and then dragged down to rows below the dollar sigh follows. As such, I ‘d like to lock down just/onlyl the formatting.

Apparently, this isn’t possible?

Have you tried using styles? That is what I would do for myself, make styles for each special format and use them instead of directly applied formatting.

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Have you tried using styles? That is what I would do for myself, make styles for each special format and use them instead of directly applied formatting.

“Styles.” Can you provide an example?

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”Styles.” Can you provide an example?

Are you using 2003 or 2007?

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