I am trying to protect my sheet and control what users can enter. I have many
cells with drop down entries but I do not want them to be able to enter
anything else into the cell. Is this possible?

Yes, it is possible to lock a drop down cell so that only drop down entries can be selected. Here are the steps to do it:

1. Select the cell or cells that you want to lock.
2. Right-click on the selected cell(s) and choose "Format Cells" from the menu.
3. In the "Format Cells" dialog box, click on the "Protection" tab.
4. Check the box next to "Locked" to lock the cell(s).
5. Click on the "OK" button to close the dialog box.

Now, the cell(s) are locked, but you still need to protect the sheet to ensure that users cannot edit them. Here's how to do that:

1. Click on the "Review" tab in the ribbon.
2. Click on the "Protect Sheet" button in the "Changes" group.
3. In the "Protect Sheet" dialog box, select the options that you want to apply to the sheet. For example, you can check the box next to "Select locked cells" to allow users to select the cells, but not edit them.
4. Enter a password if you want to prevent users from unprotecting the sheet without the password.
5. Click on the "OK" button to protect the sheet.

Now, the drop down cells are locked and users can only select entries from the drop down list. They cannot enter anything else into the cell. If they try to edit the cell, they will receive an error message saying that the cell is protected.

On Apr 29, 10:07*am, OrlaLynch
wrote:
I am trying to protect my sheet and control what users can enter. I have many
cells with drop down entries but I do not want them to be able to enter
anything else into the cell. Is this possible?

Try Data validation and list instead of what you are doing. Somewhere
on the sheet type your list of things that you do want added then
select them as the list under data validation. If the list is going
to be on a different sheet then the drop down, you will have to have a
named range. Then make your data validation list source as =Name of
your range. To create a named range you need to go to insert/ Name
Define.

Jay

I do have my Data Validation set up in this way. However the cell still
allows me to type in data as well as choose from the list. I want it so only
the list can be selected.

I hope I am explaining this ok,
Thank you for your reply,
Orla

"jlclyde" wrote:

On Apr 29, 10:07 am, OrlaLynch
wrote:
I am trying to protect my sheet and control what users can enter. I have many
cells with drop down entries but I do not want them to be able to enter
anything else into the cell. Is this possible?

Try Data validation and list instead of what you are doing. Somewhere
on the sheet type your list of things that you do want added then
select them as the list under data validation. If the list is going
to be on a different sheet then the drop down, you will have to have a
named range. Then make your data validation list source as =Name of
your range. To create a named range you need to go to insert/ Name
Define.

Jay

In the Data Validation dialog for that cell, go to the Error Alert tab. Make
sure there is a check by "Show error alert after invalid data is entered".
Click OK to close the dialog.

Hope this helps,

Hutch

"OrlaLynch" wrote:

I do have my Data Validation set up in this way. However the cell still
allows me to type in data as well as choose from the list. I want it so only
the list can be selected.

I hope I am explaining this ok,
Thank you for your reply,
Orla

"jlclyde" wrote:

On Apr 29, 10:07 am, OrlaLynch
wrote:
I am trying to protect my sheet and control what users can enter. I have many
cells with drop down entries but I do not want them to be able to enter
anything else into the cell. Is this possible?

Try Data validation and list instead of what you are doing. Somewhere
on the sheet type your list of things that you do want added then
select them as the list under data validation. If the list is going
to be on a different sheet then the drop down, you will have to have a
named range. Then make your data validation list source as =Name of
your range. To create a named range you need to go to insert/ Name
Define.

Jay

That worked perfectly,

Thank you for your help

"Tom Hutchins" wrote:

In the Data Validation dialog for that cell, go to the Error Alert tab. Make
sure there is a check by "Show error alert after invalid data is entered".
Click OK to close the dialog.

Hope this helps,

Hutch

"OrlaLynch" wrote:

I do have my Data Validation set up in this way. However the cell still
allows me to type in data as well as choose from the list. I want it so only
the list can be selected.

I hope I am explaining this ok,
Thank you for your reply,
Orla

"jlclyde" wrote:

On Apr 29, 10:07 am, OrlaLynch
wrote:
I am trying to protect my sheet and control what users can enter. I have many
cells with drop down entries but I do not want them to be able to enter
anything else into the cell. Is this possible?

Try Data validation and list instead of what you are doing. Somewhere
on the sheet type your list of things that you do want added then
select them as the list under data validation. If the list is going
to be on a different sheet then the drop down, you will have to have a
named range. Then make your data validation list source as =Name of
your range. To create a named range you need to go to insert/ Name
Define.

Jay