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 Microsoft Excel > Data Validation > Protecting Your Formulas< Previous | Next > 

 

Step 1 - ??

 
 

You can easily achieve this by protecting the whole worksheet (Tools > Protection > Protect Sheet).

 
 

The disadvantage of this though is that once a worksheet is protected useful features (such as ????) become unavailable.

 
 

This example shows you an alternative to protecting the worksheet in order to protect your formulas.

 

 

Step 2 - Find the correct formula

 



 

Step 3 - Activate the Data Validation dialog box

 
 

Highlight the cells that contain formulas you would like to protect.

 
 

You can select non-contiguous cells by holding down the Ctrl key and selecting the individual cells.

 
 

Press (Data > Validation)

 
 

In the "Allow" drop-down box, select "Custom"

 
   

 

Step 4 - Enter the formula

 
 

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Step 5 - Input Message and Error Alert tabs

 
 

It is always worth entering a helpful message into both of these tabs.

 
 

Input Message - This message will be displayed when the cell is selected (before the users enters any data). This message should be a polite reminder that the data is restricted and should give the user an indication as to what data is allowed.

 
 

Error Message - This message will be displayed if the user enters data that does not conform to the validation rules that have been set up.

 

 

Step 6 - Things to Remember

 


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