RESETTING ORIGINAL FORMATTING ON SHARED WORKBOOKS

[Meltad]

I've got a spreadsheet that a number of users around the company update and
send back to me - however they add columns and change stuff so it never comes
back the same as I sent it out.

Am I able to reset back to the original view but somehow include their added
data - can I use a template? Or do I need a macro? Can I control what the
users save e.g. no extra columns, no tampering with formulas?

[Dave Peterson]

Personally, I think I'd try to set up a worksheet that met all the requirements
for all users. Then tell them not to change it. If they change it, send it
back with a nasty note explaining that this isn't what you asked for.

If you can't do that, then I think that the only option left is to fix
everything manually each time you get something back. If the users can add
columns anyway they want, I would guess that it would be difficult to come up
with a macro that is robust enough to do the conversion.

And you can always unlock the cells that require manual input and lock the cells
that shouldn't be changed (headers/formulas) and then protect the worksheet.

But worksheet protection is easily broken.



Meltad wrote:
>
> I've got a spreadsheet that a number of users around the company update and
> send back to me - however they add columns and change stuff so it never comes
> back the same as I sent it out.
>
> Am I able to reset back to the original view but somehow include their added
> data - can I use a template? Or do I need a macro? Can I control what the
> users save e.g. no extra columns, no tampering with formulas?

--

Dave Peterson

[Gary L Brown]

To protect unwanted changes to your worksheet from the average user, you must
use a combination of unprotecting the cells you want the user to change and
protecting your worksheet.

- Highlight the cells you want to allow users to change.
- Select Format>Cells>Protection
- Uncheck the 'Locked' checkbox.
These are now the only 'unlocked' cells
- When you've unlocked all the cells you want to allow users to change...
- Highlight the entire worksheet (left-click on the blank box above the 1 in
Row 1)
- Select Tools>Protection>Protect Sheet...
- Enter a password if desired
- Select OK

Done.
HTH,
--
Gary Brown
gary_brown@ge_NOSPAM.com
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"Meltad" wrote:

> I've got a spreadsheet that a number of users around the company update and
> send back to me - however they add columns and change stuff so it never comes
> back the same as I sent it out.
>
> Am I able to reset back to the original view but somehow include their added
> data - can I use a template? Or do I need a macro? Can I control what the
> users save e.g. no extra columns, no tampering with formulas?