Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Disabling Dragging and Dropping.

Disabling Dragging and Dropping

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 19, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


Adam knows how to disable drag-and-drop editing within Excel, using a macro, by setting the CellDragandDrop property for the Application object. He rightfully notes that this doesn't stop people from dragging information from other programs (such as Word or Outlook) and dropping that information into a worksheet. He wonders if there is a way to disable dragging and dropping into Excel regardless of the source.

The closest solution we've been able to find is a set of macros developed by Ken Puls and noted at this page:

http://www.vbaexpress.com/kb/getarticle.php?kb_id=373

The macros disable certain menu functions and shortcut keys, and thereby disallow cutting, copying, and pasting. Theoretically it also disables dragging and dropping, but only extensive testing with various programs will tell if it will work in Adam's situation.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (11519) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Disabling Dragging and Dropping.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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