Locking Fields in a Data Form

MORE INFORMATION

Example

If you wanted to prevent someone from changing the salary field in the following database

    A              B              C                D

   ------------------------------------------------------
   Name            Title          Hire Date        Salary
   John            Manager        6/8/92           $50,000
				

lock column D on the spreadsheet and protect the document. When you protect the document this way, no one can add new data or change existing data in this column until you unlock the column.

To lock the column in versions of Microsoft Excel that are earlier than version 5.0, do the following:

1. Select Columns A, B, and C.
2. From the Format menu, choose Cell Protection, clear the Locked check box, and choose OK.
3. From the Options menu, choose Protect Document, and choose OK.

To lock the column in Microsoft Excel 5.0 and later, do the following:

1. Select Columns A, B, and C.
2. From the Format menu, choose Cells.
3. Select the Protection tab, clear the Locked check box, and choose OK.
4. From the Tools menu, choose Protection. Select Protect Sheet, then choose OK.

NOTE: You will not be able to add new records or delete existing records while in protect mode. This procedure is only useful for editing existing records.