To lock a range of cells
Step 1
Select the cells or a range of cells you want to lock. For instructions about how to select multiple cells, click here.
Suppose you have selected the following cell range.
Step 2
Now click "Lock Cells." Your window should look like the image below.
The cells and the two buttons ("Lock cells" and "Set to Cells") are now highlighted in green. This means that the operation was successful and the setting is active. If you press the right arrow key to move the cursor, you will see that the background color of the cells changes to gray. However, the two buttons are still highlighted in green. If you continue to move the cursor until it is out of range, the background color of the two buttons will turn off. This is a quick way to show you whether the current cell is locked.
Tip: Toggle the "Lock Cells" button to lock or unlock the cell, and click "Set to Cells" to delete the setting.
To lock a range of columns or rows
Step 1
Select the column range as shown below (you may select a range for the row, the instructions are the same).
Step 2
Click "Set to Column." Now, all cells in the column range (except the cells that were locked before) turn green. The "Set to Column" button is also green. See the screenshot below.
If you move the cursor away from these columns, you will see that the background color of all the cells changes to gray, and the background colors of all the buttons are turned off. If you move the cursor back to the column, the background color of the two buttons "Lock Cells" and "Set to Column" will turn green again (if your cursor is in the cell as shown in step 1, the "Set to Cells" button will also turn green). This is a quick way to show you whether a cell, column or row is locked.
Tips:
1) Toggle the "Set to Column" button to lock or unlock the column, and toggle the "Set to Cells" button to lock or unlock the cell.
2) To toggle a range of columns, select the range and click "Set to Column". The range of columns are now unlocked. See the screenshot below.
To delete all locked cells
Step 1
On the "Input Control" sub menu, click "Search Settings", and then a drop-down menu appears. Click and select "Locked." Your window should now look like the one below.
Step 2
Click "DELETE", a confirmation window will pop up, click Yes. Now all locked cells (rows and columns) should be deleted.
Note: This function is only available to users with designer access rights.