Protected Worksheet bug with combo boxes

**stevepic01** · 07-25-2008, 10:02 AM

I designed a calculator for a client and protected the sheet so that employees could use certain cells in the sheet but could not see or access the cells containing the calculations and formulas. On the calculator I placed a couple of combo boxes containing valid choices that the employee can choose from. When I protect the sheet, the combo boxes will not let the user choose a value - the error that comes up:

"The cell or chart that you are trying to change is protected and therefore read-only. To modify a protected cell or chart, first remove protection using the Unprotect Sheet command (Review tab, Changes group). You may be prompted for a password."

When I right click the control and look at the Protection tab in Format Control, the 'locked' check box is not checked.

Also, when I go to protect the sheet, I've actually clicked on every checkbox to give the user way more functionality that I intend (for testing purposes) and I still get the error.

Is this a bug - is there a fix or workaround?

**se1429** · 07-26-2008, 03:16 AM

Hi,
1. If you have a macro then the first thing you need to do is to put this code in Workbook_Open event:

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This will allow the macro to update the worksheet but not the user.

2. If you are using the LinkedCell property in the combobox to link to a cell in the worksheet, then this cell should not be protected.

I have a calendar template in my website which uses 3 comboboxes while the sheet is protected.
You can download the workbook and see how it works. You can protect and unprotect the worksheets freely. No password. Here is the link:

http://www.exceldigest.com/myblog/downloads/

Regards.