Microsoft KB Archive/32550

{| = Excel: Hiding Text or Values on a Worksheet =
 * width="100%"|

Last reviewed: November 2, 1994

Article ID: Q32550

SUMMARY
To format a cell in Microsoft Excel so that it will not display text or numbers, you must apply a white number format to the cell. Because white is the background color, any cell that is formatted to show its contents in white will be hidden from view. To format a cell to show anything as white (hide all), do the following:


 * 1) Select the cell(s).
 * 2) From the Format menu, choose Number.
 * 3) Enter &quot;General[white]&quot; in the Format field.
 * 4) Click OK. Any entry into the cell(s) will not display on the worksheet but will display in the formula bar.

To format a cell to show numbers, but not show text, do the following:
 * 1) Select the cell(s).
 * 2) From the Format menu, choose Number.
 * 3) Enter &quot;General;@[white]&quot; in the Format field.
 * 4) Click OK. Numeric values will display on the worksheet and text will display in white.

It is not possible to hide text on worksheets in versions of Microsoft Excel prior to version 1.50. To keep the value from displaying in the formula bar as well as in the cell(s), you must the following in addition to the procedure you performed above:


 * 1) Select the cell(s) to be hidden.
 * 2) From the Format menu, choose Cell Protection.
 * 3) Select Hidden and click OK.
 * 4) Select all the cells that need to be editable.
 * 5) From the Format menu, choose Cell Protection.
 * 6) Deselect Locked and click OK.
 * 7) From the Options menu, choose Protect Document and enter a password if desired.
 * 8) Click OK. Any value now entered into these cell(s) will not be displayed in the formula bar.
 * }