> In Office 2003 the Merge and Center button do not function when the sheet
> is
> protected while the unprotected cells do the same behavior, but if you
> move
> or cut merged cells and paste to another unprotected location the merged
> cells become unmerged and the target location becomes merged on an
> unprotected area. This behavior is good when you need to have part of the
> sheet protected and part unprotected. My suggestion for Microsoft for the
> merge and center button: this feature needs to work in unprotected cells
> while other parts of the sheet are protected. On Excel 2003 work in an
> indirect way.
>
> But in Excel 2007 this behavior was eliminated which is bad. When the
> sheet
> is protected the merge and center button do not work on unprotected cells
> while other parts of the sheet is protected.
>
> I am a analytical chemist from the Food and Drug Administration and we
> work
> with Excel Analytical Application extensively and our analyst need to have
> part of the sheet protected and other unprotected in order to create
> different analytical application using the USP and other company method
> for
> food and drug analytical method.
>
> We have done extensive research on spreadsheet analytical applications and
> discover a way for our analysts to develop from a template their
> analytical
> application which look similar to other analysts which make it easer to
> verify by other analysts because all formatting properties are similar.
> The
> merge and center button is essential when a template sheet form has
> protected
> as well as unprotected cells. By doing this we can control better the
> application development. We call this workbook files "single-user" (need
> 100%
> verification by a second analyst each time a workbook file template is
> developed) because the template in use only one time, when the analyst
> complete the analytical method it personalized for that particular drug
> analysis and is used only one time. The printed report is used as the
> official document which can be used in a court of law. The file is save
> and
> archived for future audits.
>
> We also have "multi-user" applications (need validation documentation)
> which
> can be use by more than one analyst. This type of workbook files the
> formulas
> cells are protected while the data-entry cells are unprotected. Also these
> types of workbook file are used in the pharmaceutical industries.
>
> I have several publications (US FDA Laboratory Information Bulleting) on
> this topics (single-user / multi-user). Upon request I can send them.
>
> I hope you can understand the above situation with the merge and center
> buttom. I not please give me a call, and we can discuss.
>
> Dennis Cantellops, QAM
> US FDA San Juan District
> 787-474-4795
> dcantel2[ at ]libertypr.net
> dennis.cantellops[ at ]fda.hhs.gov
>
>
> ----------------
> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
> this
> link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>
>
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?mid=068ff962-4f55-46ee-969e-4de0bd37172a&dg=microsoft.public.excel.setup