Comments on: Navigating Protected Sheets

By: Dan Maxey

Dan Maxey — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Once I was asked to set up a situation where, under certain circumstances, sheets would be programically hidden / unhidden (no problem), programatically written to (no problem), and prevent users from writing to certain areas that the program could itself write to. I became very aware of the limitations and bugs surrounding “Select Locked Cells” and “Select Unlocked Cells”. Try to change those checkboxes programatically. The only workaround I could manage was using SendKeys (ack!). In my opinion this whole Locked / Unlocked thing could use an overhaul by Microsoft.

By: James Jordin

James Jordin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:07:00 +0000

This bug is something I come across quite frequently in 2003 if “select locked cells” is unchecked, but if “select unlocked cells” is checked. If neither or both of these settings are enabled, the bug appears to go away.

Occasionally, I’m asked to use a sheet purely to display data – in situations where it’s important for users not to be able to select locked cells, but where having unlocked/selectable cells is not a requirement, I find that by making sure both the “select locked cells” and “select unlocked cells” boxes are unchecked, I can still use the CTRL+PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN shortcut keys. Therefore, the bug would appear to be related to both the “select locked cells” and “select unlocked cells” settings.

Very strange… maybe there’s some legacy code buried within Excel that uses these keystrokes for navigation? Just a thought… and a completely unqualified guess of a thought at that!

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:58:00 +0000

I saw this in 2003, and it’s still there in 2007. I was quite annoyed too.

By: Ron de Bruin

Ron de Bruin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:08:00 +0000

Hi Dick

2007 and 2010 also have this bug

I report that bug in the 2003 beta and in the 2007 beta and I
Not do it again in the 2010 beta.