11th April 2000
Coming from the "Eyes Wide Shut" department, Lockergnominion Fred Wilkinson learns how to keep data somewhat secret in Excel. There are times when you need to know the answer, but don't want any one else to see it. Wanna hide cell content in the spreadsheet and from the printer -- but not in the Formula bar? Select the cells you're wishing to keep private, open the 'Format' menu, click 'Cells,' and then flip to the 'Number' tab. In the 'Category' list, click 'Custom.' Then, in the 'Type' field, select the existing codes and press the BACKSPACE key. While still in the field, enter: ;;; (three semi-colons). If you edit anything else in those cells, be sure to do it in the Formula bar.