In Microsoft Excel, it’s very easy to protect a cell by simply turning the protection feature. But if you want to protect a cell in a Word table, it’s not as easy as in Microsoft Excel. However, it’s possible by using Text Form Field controls. First, insert a Text Form Field control into each cell where you want users to modify values. Then, the cells without Text Form Field control are protected. This solution works best with a simple Word table.
Now, let’s go to the details to protect and unprotect cells in a Word table:
1. Create the table with labels or values you want to protect.
2. Select a cell where you want users to enter information.
3. Go to the Developer tab.
Now, let’s go to the details to protect and unprotect cells in a Word table:
1. Create the table with labels or values you want to protect.
2. Select a cell where you want users to enter information.
3. Go to the Developer tab.
4. In the Controls group, click the Legacy Tools option and choose Text Form Field. In Word 2003, display the Forms toolbar and click Text Form Field.
5. Insert controls to every cell which are allowed to enter information.
6. Click Restrict Editing in the Protect group. In Word 2003, choose Protect Document from the Tools menu.
7. In the resulting task pane, choose Filling In Forms from 2. Editing Restrictions, and then click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection. (In Word 2003, you can click Protect Form on the Forms toolbar instead.)
7. In the resulting task pane, choose Filling In Forms from 2. Editing Restrictions, and then click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection. (In Word 2003, you can click Protect Form on the Forms toolbar instead.)
8. Enter a password twice, and click OK.
After this protection setting, you can’t select normal text any more. Only the cells with Text Form Filed Control can be entered data information or modified. So, this solution to protect cells in Word table has a restriction. If the Word document contains elements and text other than the table, those elements and text are not available to modify neither. However, if your document is only with a simple table, this solution is good to know when your hands are tied.
After this protection setting, you can’t select normal text any more. Only the cells with Text Form Filed Control can be entered data information or modified. So, this solution to protect cells in Word table has a restriction. If the Word document contains elements and text other than the table, those elements and text are not available to modify neither. However, if your document is only with a simple table, this solution is good to know when your hands are tied.