Please can somebody advise if there is a way of using Data Grouping within a Protected Worksheet ?

I have lots of data which I am using data grouping to reduce the overall display size on screen (eg month columns with a year total). I can then use the +/- buttons to hide and reveal data columns.

I also wish to protect data entry to be allowable only in certain cells to avoid accidental overwriting of formulae by selecting the wrong cells.

Both are fine individually, however - as soon as I use the "Protect Worksheet" function then I get an error message that this (Group) function is not possible with a protected worksheet.

I have found a bit of a workaround using Hide and Unhide together with enabling Column / Row Format on enabling protection - however this is not very elegant to use.

Is there some other way of achieving this combination of Data Grouping and Cell / Worksheet Protection ?

I am using Excel 2003, but have checked also in both 2007 & 2010, and the behaviour is exactly the same.

HELP - Anyone please ??