I am trying to protect specific rows and columns on a worksheet. I select
all, go to protection and uncheck the locked cells box. Then highlight the
rows and columns I want protected, go back in to lock the cells via right
clickformat cells and it tells me "Cannot change part of a merged cell."
what am I doing wrong here?

As far as I can see what you are doing is right.

I have just checked what you have done in EXCEL 2007 and do not get the same
warning: it works for me.

Where are the merged cells? In the protected range or out of it? I tested
with both and it seemed to make no difference (it worked either way).

"Me" wrote:

I am trying to protect specific rows and columns on a worksheet. I select
all, go to protection and uncheck the locked cells box. Then highlight the
rows and columns I want protected, go back in to lock the cells via right
clickformat cells and it tells me "Cannot change part of a merged cell."
what am I doing wrong here?

Select the "Entire" merged cell. You apparently have a "merged cell"
that is part in the "locked" area, and part in the "UNlocked" area.

Me wrote:

I am trying to protect specific rows and columns on a worksheet. I select
all, go to protection and uncheck the locked cells box. Then highlight the
rows and columns I want protected, go back in to lock the cells via right
clickformat cells and it tells me "Cannot change part of a merged cell."
what am I doing wrong here?

IMO what you are doing wrong is using merged cells. Merged cells cause issues
with copy and paste and macros and... A better option to merged cells is to
change the alignment to center across selection.

1. Unmerge the Cells
2. Select the cells you had Merged.
3. Format | Cells... |Aligment tab - Horizontal - Center Across Selection

Looks the same as a merged cells but with none of the drawbacks.
--
HTH...

Jim Thomlinson


"Me" wrote:

I am trying to protect specific rows and columns on a worksheet. I select
all, go to protection and uncheck the locked cells box. Then highlight the
rows and columns I want protected, go back in to lock the cells via right
clickformat cells and it tells me "Cannot change part of a merged cell."
what am I doing wrong here?