XL97: Cannot Move Among Unlocked Cells in Scroll Area with TAB

ID: Q161625

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

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-
```
The worksheet contains multiple (noncontiguous) selections of unlocked cells.
```
    -and-
```
You unlock cells outside of the scroll area and use the TAB or arrow key 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

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   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

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:

   Sub Set_Restrictions()

       Dim myArea As Object
       Dim counter As Integer

       Range("B5:C10").Locked = False
       Range("C14:D16").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

To reset the scroll area and 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 the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

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: XL97 8.00

Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999