Prevent pasting in cells

**yatin1964** · 10-22-2013, 05:46 AM

Hi
I've got a column of cells with validation.
If a user instead of typing values into the cells, copy/paste from another cell, the original validation settings are overwritten.
Is there any way to prevent the user from pasting data to validated cells or any cell and has to enter values by typing through keyboard, otherwise validation is not worth much.
Regards,

**Ron Coderre** · 10-22-2013, 09:40 AM

Maybe this...

With
B3: (containing the Data Validation cell)

• Set Cell B3 to UN-locked
• Set Cell C3 to LOCKED
• Select cells B3:C3
• Home.Format.Format_Cells…Alignment_tab
• Check: Merge cells
Note: I generally avoid merged cells, but in this case they are helpful.

Last...Protect the worksheet.

The end result:
Users will be able to select items from the dropdown list
but will not be able to delete the contents or paste
data into the cells.

Note: There are ways around that meager security, but
at least the users won't inadvertently ruin your sheet.

Is that something you can work with?

**yatin1964** · 10-23-2013, 03:05 AM

sorry Ron,
It's not working, if i copy paste CTRL+C & CTRL+V, the value gates copied or event if i insert a cell reference after =sign, the values gets entered without restriction of upper limit. I am not using drop down list but enter the numerical values which has upper/Lower limits to be entered.