How to restrict editing in Word 2010 and in Excel 2010

If you spent a lot of time working on a Word 2010 document or an Excel 2010 spreadsheet, you may not want users that only need to review the file to accidentally edit its content. To avoid this possible inconvenience, Microsoft Office 2010 offers an easy way to set formatting and editing restrictions.

To restrict editing in Word 2010 do the following:

1.  Open the Word 2010 document, finish editing and save all your changes.

2.  Go to the Review tab, in the Protect group, and click Restrict Editing.

3.  In the left side will appear the Restrict Formatting and Editing pane.

4.  Now in Formatting restrictions and Editing restrictions configure the formatting and editing options that are right for you, and in Start enforcement don’t forget to click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection button.

To restrict editing in Excel 2010 do the following:

1.  Open the Excel 2010, finish editing and save all your changes.

2.  Go to the Review tab, in the Changesgroup, and configure the appropriate protection options that are suited for your needs:

• Protect Sheet: Prevent changes for being made to the worksheet and in the content locked in the cells.
• Protect Workbook: Prevent changes for being made to the workbook structure, such as, moving, deleting or adding sheets.
• Protect and Share Workbook: Share Workbook and protect it with password as well.
• Allow User to edit Ranges: Specify who is allowed to edit range or cells in a protected workbook or sheet.

And there you go! This is how to restrict editing in Microsoft Office 2010. I hope that this how-to was helpful. If you have any questions please ask in the comments below.