How to make a read-only template in Excel?
Sometimes we may make an Excel template for others applying easily, but do not want them to change the template files. A read-only Excel template can help you prevent others modifying template files, but doesn’t affect applying. In this article, I will show you the method to make a read-only template in Excel.
Easily protect/lock some cells from editing in Excel
Kutools for Excel provides a quite easy way to protect or lock specified cells from editing in Excel: unlock the whole worksheet by Selection Unlock button, next lock the specified cells you will lock from editing by Selection Lock button, at last protect current worksheet. Click for detailed steps.
Make a read-only template in Excel
Make a read-only template in ExcelHere I will guide you to configure the save options when saving a workbook as a template, and make the Excel template read-only.
Step 1: Prepare your workbook which you will save as a read-only Excel template.
Step 2: Click the File > Save > Computer > Browse in Excel 2013, or click the File/Office button > Save in Excel 2007 and 2010.
Step 3: In the coming Save As dialog box,
(1) Enter a name for this workbook in the File name box;
(2) Click the Save as type box and select Excel Template (*.xltx) from drop down list;
(3) Click the Tools > General Options. See screen shot below:
Step 4: In the General Options dialog box, only check the option of Read-only recommended, and click the OK button.
Step 5: Click the Save button in the Save As dialog box.
Now the workbook is saved as a read-only Excel template. Users can apply this template with clicking File > New > Personal (or My Templates)> read-only template (or other file name you specified in Step 3) without any effects, but it will pop up a warning dialog box when users open the template by File > Open and try to modify it.
Note: Although we can make a workbook read-only with clicking the Review > Protect Sheet and specify a password, for an Excel template this method will affect users applying and editing normally.
Related articles:
How to protect/lock an Excel template being overwritten with password?
How to find and change default save location of Excel templates?
How to edit/change a personal template in Excel?
How to automatically generate invoice number in Excel?
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