Hello. 

I am looking for some Excel or OpenOffice help here. I have created a
workbook whereby the end user needs to add data to particular cells.
What I would like them to be able to do is tab from one imput cell to
the next, without using the arrow keys or using the mouse to click on
the next cell where data needs to be added. Example: cell B4 needs a
numerical value and the merged cells DEF5 require a text value. The
user adds the value in cell B4 and he tabs directly to DEF5.
Obvioulsy the normal rule of Excel is to tab from B4 to B5.

I have tried protecting the sheet and allowing access to a number of
cells but it seems that I am locked out of the sheet entirely.

Anyone got any idea?

Thanks

Sean

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Request for Question Clarification by hummer-ga on 01 Feb 2005 10:00 PST

Hi boxclever,

How about using the Go To command?

Press F5 or CTRL + G
The Go To popup box will appear.
Type: DEF5 (your example)
Click OK.

Does that help?
hummer

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Request for Question Clarification by maniac-ga on 01 Feb 2005 14:57 PST

Hello Boxclever,

The general approach to using a protected worksheet is to do the following:

[1] For each data entry cell...
  Format -> Cells
select the Protection tab and make sure "Locked" is unchecked

[2] For each non-data entry cell...
  Format -> Cells
select the Protection tab and make sure "Locked" is checked (this is
the default...)

[3] Protect the worksheet using
  Tools -> Protection -> Protect Sheet
(enter password - or leave blank)

At this point, the tab key will move between the unprotected cells. If
this solution is acceptable, please indicate so I can prepare a proper
answer.

  --Maniac

Hello Boxclever,

Thank you for the kind words.

Tabbing between "input cells" is generally performed by using the
capabilities of Microsoft Excel to protect a worksheet or workbook. In
the request for question clarification, I have described the steps,
but let me recap here:

[1] Remove protection from the "input cells" (format cells /
protection / clear locked attribute).
[2] Add (or confirm) protection from all other cells (format cells /
protection / set locked attribute).
[3] Protect the worksheet (tools / protection / protect sheet / password).

What makes this somewhat difficult to find in the Excel online help is
that the phrases I may use
  input cells
  tabbing cells
  protecting
do not find any suitable information but phrases like
  protect 
  locking sheet
are quite good at finding the right information.

The last one in particular (at least on my system) brought me to a
help page titled "Worksheet Form Example" which has a nicely formatted
example that has links to more detailed information. The end of the
page has a link to restrict entry to specific cells and a couple
clicks later has the same information I provided above.

There are also some good online resources that describe this. For
example, a search for
  input data microsoft excel
brought me to
  http://www.theexceladdict.com/_t/t031217.htm
which has a one page summary of this method of creating forms for
others to input information.

Please use a clarification request if some part of the answer is
incomplete or you need a better explanation of some part of the
problem.

Good luck with your work.
  --Maniac

Quick and efficient answer saving me lots of time:-)

One solution would be to intercept the Selection Change Event. Then
find out where they are going to, and redirect them to where they need
to go.  I am not exactly sure if this works for you, but feel free to
try it out.

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
    Select Case Target.Address
    Case "$B$5"
        Range("D5").Select
    Case Else
    End Select

End Sub

Firstly, thanks to you all for your comments.

Hummer : Your suggestion didn't work for me this time around, although
you've given me a valuable tool for the future. Thank you.

Maniac : brilliant! Exactly what I was trying to do for about three
hours yesterday afternoon. Solution is perfectly acceptable so please
do post the answer.

vbguru : I'm not too good with visual basic, in fact I'm very scared
of it. You'll forgive me if I stick with Maniac's answer, but thanks
again for the post.