Hide Column and Lock Sheet

[LRopes]

Hi all,

Is there a way to hide a column and then lock the sheet so that other users cannot unhide the column?

Thanks

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

Protecting a worksheet prevents the hiding/unhiding of columns.

 

[LRopes]

Thanks, the problem is that there are certain users that will need write access to the document (for data other than the hidden column). So the tricky part is to figure out a way to hide and lock that one column yet not the rest of the sheet. Thanks!

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

Unlock the cells that you want the users to be able to change. Then hide the column and protect the worksheet.

 

[LRopes]

Thanks but when I do that it didn't work. What am I doing wrong (following are the actions I took):

-highlight the columns that should remain editable, go to font, protection, de-select "locked"
-hide the column (that I did not unlock as above)
-protect the worksheet

Once I did this it required me to use a password to access any part of the sheet. Once I used the password, I was able unhide the hidden column.

Where did I misstep (and is there a way to do this where a password will not be necessary?).

THANKS

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

I can't reproduce that behaviour.

- Select all cells, Format|Cells|Protection tab, uncheck Locked and click OK.
- Select column G, Format|Cells|Protection tab, check Locked and click OK.
- Right click, Hide.
- Tools|Protection|Protect Sheet, click OK.

Now I can edit any visible cells, but I can't unhide the column.

 

[LRopes]

Fantastic, where is "Tools" though? The only place I can find "Protect Sheet" is on the Review Tab (Changes) and then I need to give it a password and select what I would like the user to be able to do. Is that what you meant? THANKS!!!

 

[LRopes]

Hi again. I've been playing around with this and I've been able to get it to block unhiding (through the Protect Worksheet function on the Review Tab). The remaining issue seems to be that when you go to protect the worksheet and the dialogue box asks for a password and for you to select/deselect what the users of the worksheet will be allowed to do, if any of the elements relating to formatting, inserting or deleting of cells, rows or columns is selected this will NOT protect against unhiding my column. I have a feeling the manager that's asking me to research this will tell me that she wants users to have full access to all manner of editing with the exception of unhiding this column. Thoughts? THANKS

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

I don't think that's possible.

 

[LRopes]

Thanks. Unfortunately there's a flaw in this scenario - if you copy the data and paste in an unprotected worksheet the hidden column reappears.

So any other ideas out there on this topic are much appreciated. Thanks so much for your help Andrew!