{"id":15678,"date":"2023-05-15T16:28:10","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T16:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/officetuts.net\/excel\/?p=15678"},"modified":"2024-03-28T11:36:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T11:36:52","slug":"lock-data-validation-in-excel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/officetuts.net\/excel\/examples\/lock-data-validation-in-excel\/","title":{"rendered":"Lock Data Validation in Excel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Locking data validation in Excel is useful to prevent users from changing or deleting the data validation rules you have applied to a cell or range of cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This tutorial shows two techniques for locking data validation in Excel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method #1: Protect the Worksheet to Lock Data Validation in Excel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Consider the following dataset with data validation rules applied to cell ranges B2:B10 and C2:C10. The data validation ensures that only specific dates are entered in the cell range B2:B10, and only particular countries are entered in the cell range C2:C10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Graphical<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We want to lock data validation rules in the cell ranges B2:B10 and C2:C10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We use the steps below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Select the cell range A2:C10 where you want data entry. The range includes the cell range B2:C10 which has data validation rules.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Right-click on the selection and choose Format Cells<\/strong> from the context menu to open the Format Cells<\/strong> dialog box.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \"Graphical<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + 1<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Click the Protection<\/strong> tab on the Format Cells<\/strong> dialog box, deselect the Locked<\/strong> option, and click OK to unlock the target cell range.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \"Graphical<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. Click Review >> Protect >> Protect Sheet<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \"Graphical<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. On the Protect Sheet<\/strong> dialog box, uncheck the Select locked cells<\/strong> option, and leave the other options as is.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \"Graphical<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

            Optionally, specify a password to unlock the worksheet on the Password to unprotect sheet<\/strong> box on top of the dialog box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Click OK.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              Now that the worksheet is protected, users can only enter data in the unlocked cell range and cannot fiddle with the data validation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Method #2: Use Excel VBA to Prevent Paste on Data Validation Cells<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              We can use Excel VBA to prevent pasting data validation cells and destroying the data validation rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Suppose we have the following dataset with data validation rules applied to cell ranges B2:B10 and C2:C10. The data validation ensures that only particular dates are entered in the cell range B2:B10, and only specific countries are entered in the cell range C2:C10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \"Graphical<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

              We want to use Excel VBA to prevent pasting over the cell range with data validation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              We use the steps below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. Right-click the tab of the worksheet containing the dataset and choose View Code<\/strong> on the shortcut menu.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                \"Graphical<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                1. Copy and paste the following code into the worksheet\u2019s code window:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                  Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)\n    If Not Application.Intersect(Target, Range(\"B2:C10\")) Is Nothing Then\n        Application.CutCopyMode = False\n    End If\nEnd Sub<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  1. Save the workbook as an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                    When someone tries to paste on the cells with data validation, they find that they can\u2019t because the Paste Special<\/strong> option is disabled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
                    \"Graphical<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                    Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                    This tutorial explained two techniques for locking data validation in Excel. We hope you found the tutorial helpful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
                    Locking data validation in Excel is useful to prevent users from changing or deleting the data validation rules you have applied to a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[190],"yoast_head":"\nLock Data Validation in Excel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to lock data validation rules in Excel using two different techniques. 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