You can use Data Validation on the Data menu to limit the amount of
text entered in a cell. Select the cell(s) whose input you want to
restrict, go to the Data menu and choose Validation. There, choose
"Text Length" in the Allow list and enter the minimum and/or maximum
allowable text lengths.

By default, all cells are locked so when you protect the sheet, all
cells will be locked. Select the cells you want the user to have
access, go to the Format menu, choose Cells and there choose the
Protection tab. Uncheck the "Locked" option and click OK.

Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP
Excel Product Group
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
(email on web site)

On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:22:04 -0800, tates
wrote:

I am building a form and:

1. need to limit the text response to 500 characters in a single cell.
2. need to protect all the cells except those I want the user to enter
information in

Can anyone help me?