Protecting Columns. How to Lock Columns in Google Sheets

How to Lock Columns in Google Sheets #

Google Sheets is a powerful tool that allows users to create and manage spreadsheets online. One feature that can come in handy when working with large sets of data is the ability to lock columns. Locking columns can prevent accidental edits or changes to specific data that you want to keep intact.

Manual Method #

To lock columns in Google Sheets manually, follow these simple steps:

  1. Open your Google Sheets document and navigate to the sheet containing the columns you want to lock.

  2. Select the column or columns that you want to protect. You can do this by clicking on the column letter(s) at the top of the spreadsheet. Hold down the Ctrl key (Cmd key on Mac) to select multiple columns.

  3. Once the columns are selected, click on the Format menu at the top of the screen and choose Freeze from the dropdown menu.

  4. Another dropdown menu will open, presenting you with different options. If you want to lock the selected columns in place while keeping the rows free to scroll, choose 1 column or 2 columns based on your preference.

  5. After selecting the desired option, the chosen columns will be locked in place, and you can start scrolling through the rows without affecting the locked columns' positions.

Google Apps Script #

If you are looking for a more automated approach to locking columns in Google Sheets, you can use Google Apps Script. With this scripting language, you can write custom code to respond to various triggers and automate tasks in Google Sheets.

Here's an example of a simple Apps Script code that locks columns:

function lockColumns() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
  var range = sheet.getRange("A:B");  // Change "A:B" to the range of columns you want to lock
  range.protect();
}

To use this script:

  1. Open your Google Sheets document.

  2. Click on Extensions in the top menu, then click on Apps Script.

  3. A new tab will open, showing you the Google Apps Script editor. In this editor, paste the code above.

  4. Modify the "A:B" range in the code to match the range of columns you want to lock. For example, if you want to lock columns C and D, change the range to "C:D".

  5. Save the script by clicking on the floppy disk icon or by pressing Ctrl + S (Cmd + S on Mac).

  6. Close the Apps Script editor.

  7. Finally, refresh your Google Sheets document, and the specified columns will be locked.

Use Case Examples #

Financial Statements #

Locking columns can be useful when working with financial statements. For instance, you may want to protect the columns containing important financial data, such as revenue and expenses, while allowing others to make changes to surrounding cells for calculations or annotations.

Survey Responses #

In cases where multiple people are working on a survey response sheet, it can be helpful to lock the question columns. This ensures that only authorized users can make changes to the questions while allowing others to enter their responses.

Data Analysis #

When performing data analysis in Google Sheets, locking columns can come in handy to prevent accidental modifications of the original data. By protecting the columns containing raw data, you can freely perform calculations and manipulations in other columns without risking any unintended changes.

In conclusion, whether you prefer to manually lock columns using the built-in freeze feature or utilize Google Apps Script for automation, the ability to lock columns offers you control and protection over your data in Google Sheets.

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