Unable to SORT a PROTECTED spreadsheet with both locked and unlocked cells.

Hi All,

My first time here. Hopefully someone has a quick fix.

I created a large spreadsheet in Excel 2010 that contains both locked and unlocked cells. The locked cells contain complex formulas that I need to protect from inadverent changes. When the spreadsheet is NOT PROTECTED I can sort just fine. When the spreadsheet IS PROTECTED, I can't sort at all even though in the PROTECT SHEET dialog box I checked the box to allow users to SORT. (I also checked the box at the top of that dialog box "to protect worksheet and contents of locked cells".)

For my own use I can just unprotect the worksheet, sort it, then turn the protection back on. The problem is that I'm sharing the file with multiple users in many other locations and they need to sort their protected copy of the file. If I turn protection ON, they can't sort. If I turn protection OFF, they can sort, but the formulas are at risk of inadvertent damage or deletion.

Am I doing something wrong? How can I fix this for all those who use the file?

Thanks for your help.

Best,

JBader

Thanks for your suggestion. I followed the guidance at the link but unfortunately it did not work.

I set the range of cells to edit and set a password to allow the range to be edited. I then turned on protection. (My other users are not on a domaine so I ignored the permissions section). But when I enter the password to permit the SORT, I CAN sort but also CAN modify locked cells. If I don't allow users to "select locked cells" (in the protection dialog box), then I can't select any rows to SORT at all because all rows contain some locked cells.

Its frustrating - I just want to sort locked cells. It hard to believe that Excel doesn't allow this.

Having the same problem. I have found many pages online that have solutions, but I've not had success just yet.

Did you ever find a solution to this? I have the exact same issue! I tried the same things suggested below and also no luck! Would love to know if you found a solution!

Originally Posted by laberhelp

Did you ever find a solution to this? I have the exact same issue! I tried the same things suggested below and also no luck! Would love to know if you found a solution!

No I didn't.