The cell or chart you are trying to change is on a protected sheet

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1. 11-17-2017, 03:34 AM #1

   Registered User

   "This cell you are trying to change is in a protected sheet..." message for unlocked cells

   Hi Guys,

   I have a worksheet that is protected but I have left a couple of cells unlocked where I want users to enter data that gets fed into complex formulae. When I was protecting the worksheet I made sure to click the "allow users to select unlocked cells" option.

   I have always been able to do this without any issues BUT since yesterday for all newly protected sheets I get the following pop up message when I click into a unlocked cell [even though I enabled the allow users to select unlocked cells].

   Pop up box: "The cell or chart you're trying to change is in a protected sheet. To make change, unprotect sheet. You might be required to enter a password."

   I am still able to enter a value into the data entry unlocked cells but only after I have okayed the above pop-up message. It is quite annoying to have the pop-up appear each time a data entry is made in an unlocked cell. Furthemore, I also get the pop-up message as soon as the protected sheet is opened.

   I use Excel 2016 [that latest version]. This never used to happen before.

   How can I disable this pop-up box from appearing. Please help!! It will surely drive all my data entry staff bonkers too.

   Thanks,

   Yusuf

2. 11-17-2017, 03:44 AM #2

   Re: "This cell you are trying to change is in a protected sheet..." message for unlocked c

   you select "allow users to select unlocked cells" not edit
   right click on these cells , format, uncheck protection

   locked.jpg

   Last edited by sandy666; 11-17-2017 at 03:50 AM.

   sandy

   I want to see what you are trying to achieve, not how you are trying to do it

   What makes learning so hard is the amount of knowledge you have to unlearn
   Why is my program not doing what I expect?
   Because you set the wrong expectations. Rewire your brain

3. 11-17-2017, 03:54 AM #3

   Registered User

   Re: "This cell you are trying to change is in a protected sheet..." message for unlocked c

   Hi -

   Sorry I don't get the uncheck protection. When I right click the cells [which I want users to be able to enter data into] I only get 2 options under protection tab - Locked and Hidden. I have both these unchecked. Please see attached image.

   I always uncheck these boxes in Protection Tab then go ahead and protect the sheet [and allow users to select unlocked cells]. In the past Excel would allow data to be written into unlocked cells in a protected sheet without giving the pop-up message but now it gives a pop-up message for each cell.

   Help!

   Y

4. 11-17-2017, 04:00 AM #4

   Re: "This cell you are trying to change is in a protected sheet..." message for unlocked c

   I don't know what are you doing there
   see atrtached, protected file [password: [no password] ]
   only B is unlocked
   the rest is locked and free for selection

   first what you should do is unprotect sheet/workbook, then unlock selected cells then protect sheet/workbook

5. 11-19-2017, 06:21 AM #5

   Registered User

   Re: "This cell you are trying to change is in a protected sheet..." message for unlocked c

   Hi -
   So I kept following all your above steps BUT could not get rid of the annoying message. Then I realized I had 2 combo boxes on my worksheet and they had linked cells which I had not unlocked! Once I unlocked the cells linked to the combo boxes and reset protection the pop-up messages disappeared!
   Thanks again for help...
   Best,
   Yusuf

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