Locking Conditional Formatting in Excel 2000.

**athegn** · 07-27-2009, 09:29 AM

I have a column "g" with this conditional formatting:-

=A2<>A3 Format Bottom Border.

However I will pass this workbook onto someone else who will fill in the text in column "g". They will use copy/paste text from other cells or columns even other workbooks that will not have the conditional formatting.

I have used Cells > Projection > Locked unchecked then used Tools > Protection > Protect Sheet and checked all. There does not seem to be a way to unlock the cell but protect Conditional formatting.

Each time I copy and paste from other non formatted cells it wipes out my formatting.

I want to lock just the Conditional formatting.

Any advice please?

**martindwilson** · 07-27-2009, 10:11 AM

use copy/paste special values then the conditional formatting will be kept

**athegn** · 07-27-2009, 11:16 AM

Thank you

However is that the only way?

The reason I ask is that this spreadsheet is not being used in a commercial environment but in a small Club and I don't know who will be copy/pasting.

The main individual is enough Excel savvy to understand but his assistances may not be.

**ChemistB** · 07-27-2009, 11:20 AM

There is no other easy way. You can use VBA to try to disable all "copy and Paste" techniques. An easier way might be to set up the workbook such that a message box appears upon opening, explaining not to use copy and paste but to use Paste Special>values instead.