Unlocking Cells when a worksheet is protected...

I am creating a simply registration list that can be emailed to companies for
them to fill out. In an effort not to have others change the format of the
form I am trying to protect certain cells and allow access only to the cells
I want others to fill in. I have been through the Excel help files many
times, it tells me to protect the sheet, highlight the range of cells I want
to unlock, go to Format, Cells, Protection, etc. However when I protect the
sheet, I go to Format, and the Cells option is no longer an option. Even
right clicking to go to Format Cells is turned off. How do I unlock these
cells, after I protect the worksheet?

racmb1975,

By default all cells in excel are protected or locked, select the cells you
want to unlock and go to format, cells, protection and uncheck locked, the
go to tools, protection, and protect sheet, enter a password if you want,
now only the cells that you unlocked can be edited.


If you only need a few locked I would select them all first, Ctrl A, then
go to format, cells, protection and uncheck locked, then select the cells
you want to lock and go to format cells and check locked, the go to tools,
protection, and protect sheet, enter a password if you want, now the cells
that you locked can not be edited
--
Paul B
Always backup your data before trying something new
Please post any response to the newsgroups so others can benefit from it
Feedback on answers is always appreciated!
Using Excel 2002 & 2003


"racmb1975" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am creating a simply registration list that can be emailed to companies
>for
> them to fill out. In an effort not to have others change the format of
> the
> form I am trying to protect certain cells and allow access only to the
> cells
> I want others to fill in. I have been through the Excel help files many
> times, it tells me to protect the sheet, highlight the range of cells I
> want
> to unlock, go to Format, Cells, Protection, etc. However when I protect
> the
> sheet, I go to Format, and the Cells option is no longer an option. Even
> right clicking to go to Format Cells is turned off. How do I unlock these
> cells, after I protect the worksheet?

ok. As the help file says, select the cells you want the user to be able to
access. On format>cells>protection. uncheck the box marked "locked ". Now
protect the sheet. Only the cells that you selected and un locked are
accessable by the user.



"racmb1975" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am creating a simply registration list that can be emailed to companies
>for
> them to fill out. In an effort not to have others change the format of
> the
> form I am trying to protect certain cells and allow access only to the
> cells
> I want others to fill in. I have been through the Excel help files many
> times, it tells me to protect the sheet, highlight the range of cells I
> want
> to unlock, go to Format, Cells, Protection, etc. However when I protect
> the
> sheet, I go to Format, and the Cells option is no longer an option. Even
> right clicking to go to Format Cells is turned off. How do I unlock these
> cells, after I protect the worksheet?