+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 5 of 5

drop down menus

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    02-04-2011
    Location
    New Jersey
    MS-Off Ver
    Excel 2003
    Posts
    2

    drop down menus

    Is there a way to restrict users from pasting into cells with drop down menus. I cannot lock the worksheet because I need to keep many functions available. Thanks

  2. #2
    Forum Contributor TechRetard's Avatar
    Join Date
    06-14-2009
    Location
    Houston, TX
    MS-Off Ver
    Excel 2010
    Posts
    202

    Re: drop down menus

    are you talking about Data Validation drop down lists? there is an Error Alert tab that should allow you to have an error pop up if something outside of the list is entered

  3. #3
    Valued Forum Contributor
    Join Date
    10-13-2010
    Location
    Sunderland, England
    MS-Off Ver
    Excel 2007 (Home) / 2003 (Work)
    Posts
    740

    Re: drop down menus

    Techretard, that doesn't stop you pasting an invalid value over the top though.

    Michael, could you not select all cells, go to format->protection then untick 'lock cells', then manually lock the cells that you don't want to be amended (or similarly unlock the cells you want to allow to be amended, depending on what is easier). Then when you lock the worksheet you'll only be locking cells you don't want to be amended.

  4. #4
    Forum Expert JBeaucaire's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-21-2004
    Location
    Bakersfield, CA
    MS-Off Ver
    2010, 2016, Office 365
    Posts
    33,492

    Re: drop down menus

    1) I would solve this with training. Color the cells with DV lists in a way that is obvious and specifically teach your users "don't change the colors". When they "paste" uncontrolled from other sources, the whole cell is typically changed so the color change is the most obvious way for them to see instantly they made an error.

    DV lists should be easy to use, that's the point of a DV drop down list. Ease. If there's something about your DV list that makes your users not want to use it, let's talk about that.

    Consider showing us the sheet.

    Teach them to EDIT > PASTE SPECIAL > VALUES which allows them to still copy long choices from elsewhere into the cell, but not destroy your cell formatting.

    2) You could employ a macro that corrects these the DV if it gets removed.
    _________________
    Microsoft MVP 2010 - Excel
    Visit: Jerry Beaucaire's Excel Files & Macros

    If you've been given good help, use the icon below to give reputation feedback, it is appreciated.
    Always put your code between code tags. [CODE] your code here [/CODE]

    ?None of us is as good as all of us? - Ray Kroc
    ?Actually, I *am* a rocket scientist.? - JB (little ones count!)

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    02-04-2011
    Location
    New Jersey
    MS-Off Ver
    Excel 2003
    Posts
    2

    Re: drop down menus

    Thanks for the help. I will try this

+ Reply to Thread

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 RC 1