Defining specific areas for users to enter data

I'm looking to have specific cells where users can enter information, which
is linked to other calculations in the sheet. I want everything else
protected except for those few cells ("hot") and would like the user to only
be able to mouse over them. I've also heard it is possible to "tab" between
these "hot" cells, enabling a user to quickly fill out a template. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

Read about Protection in Help
Select the 'hot' cells; use Format |Cells; open Protection tab and uncheck
the Locked box
Use Tools | Protection -> Worksheet to protect the worksheet
Done!
--
Bernard V Liengme
www.stfx.ca/people/bliengme
remove caps from email

"Holt88" <Holt88@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:21EDB50B-ADED-4C71-BAFC-ECAA79216818@microsoft.com...
> I'm looking to have specific cells where users can enter information,
> which
> is linked to other calculations in the sheet. I want everything else
> protected except for those few cells ("hot") and would like the user to
> only
> be able to mouse over them. I've also heard it is possible to "tab"
> between
> these "hot" cells, enabling a user to quickly fill out a template. Any
> ideas?
> Thanks in advance.

"Holt88" <Holt88@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:21EDB50B-ADED-4C71-BAFC-ECAA79216818@microsoft.com...
> I'm looking to have specific cells where users can enter information,
> which
> is linked to other calculations in the sheet. I want everything else
> protected except for those few cells ("hot") and would like the user to
> only
> be able to mouse over them. I've also heard it is possible to "tab"
> between
> these "hot" cells, enabling a user to quickly fill out a template. Any
> ideas?
> Thanks in advance.

By default, all cells are locked. It doesn't really take effect until you
protect the sheet (Menu: Tools, Protection, Protect Sheet). To do what
you're asking, simply select the cells you want UNlocked, click Format,
Cells, Protection, and UNcheck the Locked option.

As far as mousing over vs tabs, I'm not clear what you mean by "only be able
to mouse over them". Unless there's a compelling reason to do otherwise,
it's ALWAYS a good idea to give users two ways to navigate and enter data,
especially since the keyboard's more efficient.

Thanks for the insite. Is it possible to set something up where a user can
"Tab" (tab key) from preset cell to preset cell. For example, if their are 4
"hot cells" on a sheet, the user can hit Tab to quickly jump for hot cell to
hot cell.

"Holt88" wrote:

> I'm looking to have specific cells where users can enter information, which
> is linked to other calculations in the sheet. I want everything else
> protected except for those few cells ("hot") and would like the user to only
> be able to mouse over them. I've also heard it is possible to "tab" between
> these "hot" cells, enabling a user to quickly fill out a template. Any ideas?
> Thanks in advance.

Are the cells contiguous?

"Holt88" <Holt88@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:61D8CD1D-01EC-4023-BE83-16C8D2D222A4@microsoft.com...
> Thanks for the insite. Is it possible to set something up where a user can
> "Tab" (tab key) from preset cell to preset cell. For example, if their are
> 4
> "hot cells" on a sheet, the user can hit Tab to quickly jump for hot cell
> to
> hot cell.
>
> "Holt88" wrote:
>
>> I'm looking to have specific cells where users can enter information,
>> which
>> is linked to other calculations in the sheet. I want everything else
>> protected except for those few cells ("hot") and would like the user to
>> only
>> be able to mouse over them. I've also heard it is possible to "tab"
>> between
>> these "hot" cells, enabling a user to quickly fill out a template. Any
>> ideas?
>> Thanks in advance.

I just set up 4 non-contiguous cells as unlocked, then protected the sheet,
and found that the tab key *does* move between the 4 available cells. It
does so from left to right, then down to the next row and left to right
again. B1, E1, then down to B3, E3. Sort of the same way we read text. Do
you need the movement to happen in a pattern other than that one?


"Holt88" <Holt88@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:61D8CD1D-01EC-4023-BE83-16C8D2D222A4@microsoft.com...
> Thanks for the insite. Is it possible to set something up where a user can
> "Tab" (tab key) from preset cell to preset cell. For example, if their are
> 4
> "hot cells" on a sheet, the user can hit Tab to quickly jump for hot cell
> to
> hot cell.
>
> "Holt88" wrote:
>
>> I'm looking to have specific cells where users can enter information,
>> which
>> is linked to other calculations in the sheet. I want everything else
>> protected except for those few cells ("hot") and would like the user to
>> only
>> be able to mouse over them. I've also heard it is possible to "tab"
>> between
>> these "hot" cells, enabling a user to quickly fill out a template. Any
>> ideas?
>> Thanks in advance.

That's it - thanks!

"Doug Kanter" wrote:

> I just set up 4 non-contiguous cells as unlocked, then protected the sheet,
> and found that the tab key *does* move between the 4 available cells. It
> does so from left to right, then down to the next row and left to right
> again. B1, E1, then down to B3, E3. Sort of the same way we read text. Do
> you need the movement to happen in a pattern other than that one?
>
>
> "Holt88" <Holt88@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:61D8CD1D-01EC-4023-BE83-16C8D2D222A4@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks for the insite. Is it possible to set something up where a user can
> > "Tab" (tab key) from preset cell to preset cell. For example, if their are
> > 4
> > "hot cells" on a sheet, the user can hit Tab to quickly jump for hot cell
> > to
> > hot cell.
> >
> > "Holt88" wrote:
> >
> >> I'm looking to have specific cells where users can enter information,
> >> which
> >> is linked to other calculations in the sheet. I want everything else
> >> protected except for those few cells ("hot") and would like the user to
> >> only
> >> be able to mouse over them. I've also heard it is possible to "tab"
> >> between
> >> these "hot" cells, enabling a user to quickly fill out a template. Any
> >> ideas?
> >> Thanks in advance.
>
>
>