XL98: Cannot Move Among Unlocked Cells in Scroll Area with TAB

ID: Q186206

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you use a Visual Basic for Applications macro to cycle through unlocked cells, you cannot use the TAB key or arrow keys to move the active cell through the unlocked cells. However, you can select an unlocked cell in the scroll area with the pointer.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when all of the following conditions are true:

The macro restricts the scroll area to a specific range of cells by using the ScrollArea property.
```
    -and-
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The worksheet contains multiple (noncontiguous) selections of unlocked cells.
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    -and-
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You unlock cells outside of the scroll area and use the TAB key or arrow keys to move between unlocked cells.

The TAB key and arrow keys do not function properly because their functionality is determined by the unlocked cell to the right or below the active cell, and these cells are outside the restricted scroll area.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic for Applications procedures for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. The Visual Basic procedures in this article are provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular macro, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct macros to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers. Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating custom macros. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400.

To work around this problem, temporarily lock all cells that are outside of the scroll area. To do this, create a Visual Basic macro that limits the cells that can be selected on the worksheet. This macro must unlock cells that can be selected, protect the worksheet, and then restrict the scroll area to encompass the cells that can be viewed.

NOTE: By restricting the scroll area, you cannot select some cells using the TAB key or the arrow keys.

Visual Basic Macro Example

The following example macro locks cells outside of the scroll area on Sheet1 of a new workbook:

1. Save and close any open workbooks, and then create a new workbook.

2. Press OPTION+F11 to start the Visual Basic Editor.

3. On the Insert menu, click Module

4. Type the following code in the module:

   Sub Set_Restrictions()

       Dim myArea As Object
       Dim counter As Integer

       Range("B6:C10").Locked = False
       Range("C15:E16").Locked = False
       Range("F12:H15").Locked = False

       With Worksheets("sheet1")
           .EnableSelection = xlUnlockedCells
           .Protect contents:=True, userinterfaceonly:=True
           .ScrollArea = "a1:e20"
       End With

       Set myArea = Range(Worksheets("sheet1").ScrollArea)

       For counter = (myArea.Column + myArea.Columns.Count) To 256
           Columns(counter).Locked = True
       Next counter

   End Sub

5. Press OPTION+F11 to switch to Microsoft Excel.

6. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.

7. Click the Set_Restrictions macro, and then click Run.

The cells are locked outside of the scroll area on Sheet1 of a new workbook.

To reset the scroll area and to avoid putting restrictions on cells that can be selected, run the following macro:

   Sub No_Restrictions()
       With Worksheets("sheet1")
           .EnableSelection = xlNoRestrictions
           .Protect contents:=False, userinterfaceonly:=True
           .ScrollArea = ""
       End With
   End Sub

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.

REFERENCES

For more information about the Locked property, from the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "locked property," click Search, and then click to view "Locked Property (Excel 97)."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

Additional query words: 8.00 XL98

Keywords          : kbdta xlvbahowto 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999