Editing Cells in Protected Worksheet Erases Content

[rjbinney]

I've inherited a spreadsheet from a client. We've gone through many revisions, each has been more contentious than the last. I mention that, because I need to be very specific in the feedback I'm going to provide this time...

There is a worksheet that has been protected.

I don't know that any of this architecture matters, but just in case:

The first column is a drop down. The second column is a vlookup to another sheet based on Column 1's value.

Column three is a drop down whose options are contingent on a value in a different cell entirely. Column four is a drop down whose options are contingent on column three.*

Here's the Issue:
Column five is free-form text. If I type something, click on another cell, and then click back and try to edit - it erases the entire content of that cell. F2 doesn't do anything. When I click on the cell, the text of the cell does NOT appear in the formula bar.

I can't replicate this in other/new workbooks of my own design, so I can't figure out what's actually happening here.

(I will say the cell in question is a 2C x 4R "merge"; does THAT make a difference?)

Like I said, I need to be very careful to go back to this guy and ask for a modification, so I'd like to be able to pinpoint EXACTLY what needs to happen.

Thanks!




* So, for instance, let's say there's a cell where you typed "PET". When you click on column three, the options may be "CAT" or "DOG". If you select "Dog", you may get in column four "RETRIEVER", "HOUND", "ST BERNARD". But if you selected "CAT", you'd get "SHORT HAIR", "DEAD".

 

[VoG]

For one thing, merged cells are an absolute ni=nightmare, to be avoided at all costs. You can achieve the same visual effect using the regular format options like Horizontal Alignment = Center Across Selection.

Check for code: right click the sheet tab, select View Code. Anything listed?

 

[rjbinney]

Don't have any say over the merged cells. I'm not a fan, either.

View Code:

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[rjbinney]

Bump.

I need to try to find a fix here.

Thanks!