One more way if you're not using format|Conditional formatting.

Select the range you want to color (it can include locked and unlocked cells)
I used A1:x99

And A1 was my activecell.

Then I used:
format|conditional formatting
formula is:
=CELL("Protect",A1)

And gave it a nice pattern.

Shrikant wrote:

How to paint the locked cells automatically ? This will help me to quickly
identify the locked cells and guide the users to stay within the white region
only.

--
Shrikant

--

Dave Peterson