7. Protection in Spreadsheets

Cell protection is an important way of making sure that information in a spreadsheet is not accidentally deleted, by locking cells so that the information cannot be changed when clicking in the cell.

Of course, you have to be careful when applying cell protection that you are still able to change any cells that you do want to change.

Applying a simple cell protection that locks all cells is straightforward in Excel as can be seen in movie clip 1. However, applying a more complex protection or a cell lock that allows some cells to be changed while others cannot, is a much more complicated process. This technique is explored in movie clip 2.

Introducing Cell Protection!

Applying Simple Cell Protection! Click to Go Larger Screen

1. Open your file grading.xls (from the earlier exercise on sorting) and,
2. Watch Movie 8 and using the method shown apply cell protection to the worksheet.
3. Add the password lock.
4. Save your file.

Protecting Selected Cells in a Spreadsheet!

More Complex Protection! Click to Go Larger Screen

1. Open your file shop sales.xls.
2. Watch Movie 9 and apply cell protection, leaving F3 to F7 and C3 to c11 unlocked.
3. Save your file.

Mark off Exercise 10 and 11 in your Progress Grids

What you should now be able to do!

• Add Passwords and use cell protection to lock spreadsheets.

• Use selective cell protection or only lock a few cells in a spreadsheet.

Continue to Section 8: Inserting Rows and Columns