How to Protect Excel Cells From Modification

Protect cells if you want people to look at your work, but you don't want to risk their messing up your formulas. These steps work with Microsoft Excel 97.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Excel Book
• Microsoft Excel

1. Start Microsoft Excel and open the file you want to change.

2. Drag mouse and highlight the cells you want to protect.

3. Open the Format menu and select Cells.

4. Select the Protection tab.

5. Click the Locked option.

6. Select OK to accept the changes.

7. Open the Tools menu and select Protection, then select Protect Sheet.

8. Click OK.

Tips & Warnings

• Using a password is optional.
• If you are tracking changes, you will need to protect your workbook and not your worksheet.

[orangeJuice]

on 10/16/2007 Why oh why can not MS make it so easy? Thank you.

on 8/1/2006 As default, the Locked option for all cells is checked. So, before doing the steps described, you have to select all cells, go to Format>Protection tab and uncheck the Locked check box. Now just follow the steps. Good luck!