Datasheet

Hiding Cell Contents

Excel doesn’t provide a direct way to hide the contents of cells (without hiding entire rows

and columns), but you can fake it in a few ways:

•

Use a special custom number format. Select the cell or cells to be hidden, press Ctrl+1

and click the Number tab in the Format Cells dialog box. Select Custom from the

Category list, and then, in the Type field, enter ;;; (three semicolons).

•

Make the font color the same as the background color.

•

Add a shape to your worksheet and position it over the cell or cells to be hidden. You

should make the shape the same color as the cell background and (probably) remove the

borders.

All these methods have problems: The cell’s contents are still displayed on the formula bar

when the cell is selected. If you don’t want to see the cell contents on the formula bar after

you use one of those methods, you can either hide the formula bar or perform these addi-

tional steps:

1. Select the cells.

2. Press Ctrl+1, and then click the Protection tab in the Format Cells dialog box.

3. Select the Hidden check box and click OK.

4. Choose Review ➪ Protect Sheet.

5. In the Protect Sheet dialog box, add a password if desired, and click OK.

Keep in mind that when a sheet is protected, you can’t change any cells unless they are not

locked. By default, all cells are locked. You change the locked status of a cell by using the

Protection tab in the Format Cells dialog box.

Tip 17: Hiding Cell Contents

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