Question

Allow cell contents to change through calculated update only

Asked by: jgerbitz

Hi,

I have a worksheet for which I have defined a number of ranges that can be changed.  However, I'd like only certain ranges to be user-definable; the rest of the ranges must be locked to the user, but must be updatable via calculations.  How can I do this?

I would prefer not to work with dialog boxes (parameters?) if at all possible.

Thanks,
Jens

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Asked On
2008-10-14 at 17:10:34ID23814991
Tags

MS

,

Excel

,

2003

Topic

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Software

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: nutschPosted on 2008-10-14 at 17:13:54ID: 22717153

Put formulas in the cells you want to update via calculations.
Select the user input cells, Format\Cells\Protection\ Uncheck the locked checkbox
Protect the Sheet Tools\Protection\Sheets\Protect Sheet.

Voila..

Thomas

 

by: jgerbitzPosted on 2008-10-14 at 17:31:46ID: 22717238

Thanks, but...

After following your suggestion, and regardless of which cell I choose in the sheet, I'm getting a Run-Time Error 1004: "The cell or chart you are trying to change is protected and therefore read-only..."

I've attached the file, hopefully it's easier that way.  Basically, I'd like users to only be able to edit the following cells: D19, B23, D23, D34.

Thanks again!
Jens

  • ee.xls
    • 57 KB

    Stock calculations

 

by: jgerbitzPosted on 2008-10-14 at 17:32:37ID: 22717239

By the way, there's a simple macro in there.  Nothing malicious :)

 

by: nutschPosted on 2008-10-14 at 17:48:26ID: 22717303

and a password too...which you will either communicate or remove :-)

 

by: jgerbitzPosted on 2008-10-14 at 21:53:56ID: 22718149

Whoops... sorry.  47694769

 

by: jgerbitzPosted on 2008-10-16 at 07:45:06ID: 22731582

Hi nutsch-- have you had a chance to look at the sheet?
Thanks,
Jens

 

by: nutschPosted on 2008-10-16 at 10:05:15ID: 22733277

Just what I thought. Because your worksheet selection change macro affects cell D31, if it's locked you get that error 1004.

To get rid of it, edit your code so it first unprotects the sheet, then runs your code, then reprotects it.

Something like
activesheet.unprotect
[your code]
activesheet.protect

 

by: jgerbitzPosted on 2008-10-16 at 12:01:31ID: 22734553

That makes sense, but in order for it to work I had to get rid of the password protection for unprotecting the sheet.  Is there a way to keep the password?  If so, how can I:

1) Avoid having to re-enter the password every time Worksheet_SelectionChange is triggered?

2) Secure the password so it doesn't appear as plain text in the macro?

Thanks for your help,
J

 

by: nutschPosted on 2008-10-16 at 12:19:41ID: 22734773

You can put the password in the the unprotect.
Then you can password protect the macro so it's not visible (tools/properties in the vb editor). However, if your users are knowledgeable enough to look into the macros, they might also be able to find the protection password.

 

by: jgerbitzPosted on 2008-10-16 at 13:51:13ID: 31506150

That's great, thanks.

 

by: nutschPosted on 2008-10-16 at 14:34:05ID: 22735968

Glad to help. Thanks for the grade.

Thomas

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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