software

I am a semi experienced excel user however I find when entering data for
monthly reports, I seem to be deleting formulas when editing data and
therefore my spreadsheets don't calculate correctly. I have heard there is a
button that I can turn on and off when editing worksheets that will protect
my formulas. Where is that device and or how do I enter data so that I won't
lose my formulas? Thanks

Presume you're talking about accidental overwrite of formula cells with
manual inputs ? (A cell can only hold either a value or a formula at any one
time)

To minimize accidental overwrites of formula cells, we can apply sheet
protection with data cells unlocked to allow inputs

Try this:

Select* the data input cells, say, select B2:B10
Click Format gt; Cells gt; Protection tab gt; Uncheck quot;Lockedquot; gt; OK
Then click Tools gt; Protection gt; Protect Sheet gt; Enter password (optional) gt;
OK

*We can multi-select data cells by holding down the CTRL key while
selecting, and unlock all at one go
--
Max
Singapore
savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---
quot;pollyannaquot; gt; wrote in message
...
gt; I am a semi experienced excel user however I find when entering data for
gt; monthly reports, I seem to be deleting formulas when editing data and
gt; therefore my spreadsheets don't calculate correctly. I have heard there
is a
gt; button that I can turn on and off when editing worksheets that will
protect
gt; my formulas. Where is that device and or how do I enter data so that I
won't
gt; lose my formulas? Thanks
In addition to turning on protection and for use when you have it
turned off you could also color code input cells and calculated cells.
Color Coding Cells for Usage (#colorcoding)
www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel...tm#colorcoding

Basically my suggestion is:
white or pale color background for input areas
formula results with another text and/or background color

Conditional Formatting may add additional color to your mix.
---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

quot;Maxquot; gt; wrote in message ...
gt; Presume you're talking about accidental overwrite of formula cells with
gt; manual inputs ? (A cell can only hold either a value or a formula at any one
gt; time)
gt;
gt; To minimize accidental overwrites of formula cells, we can apply sheet
gt; protection with data cells unlocked to allow inputs
gt;
gt; Try this:
gt;
gt; Select* the data input cells, say, select B2:B10
gt; Click Format gt; Cells gt; Protection tab gt; Uncheck quot;Lockedquot; gt; OK
gt; Then click Tools gt; Protection gt; Protect Sheet gt; Enter password (optional) gt;
gt; OK
gt;
gt; *We can multi-select data cells by holding down the CTRL key while
gt; selecting, and unlock all at one go
gt; --
gt; Max
gt; Singapore
gt; savefile.com/projects/236895
gt; xdemechanik
gt; ---
gt; quot;pollyannaquot; gt; wrote in message
gt; ...
gt; gt; I am a semi experienced excel user however I find when entering data for
gt; gt; monthly reports, I seem to be deleting formulas when editing data and
gt; gt; therefore my spreadsheets don't calculate correctly. I have heard there
gt; is a
gt; gt; button that I can turn on and off when editing worksheets that will
gt; protect
gt; gt; my formulas. Where is that device and or how do I enter data so that I
gt; won't
gt; gt; lose my formulas? Thanks
gt;
gt;