XL97: Cannot Move Among Unlocked Cells in Scroll Area with TAB (161625)

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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To temporarily work around this problem, 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

XL97: Cannot Move Among Unlocked Cells in Scroll Area with TAB (161625)

SYMPTOMS

CAUSE

WORKAROUND

Visual Basic Macro Example

STATUS

REFERENCES