Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 25, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365
Fred often needs to use Find and Replace in editing his documents. However, there are certain areas of the documents in which he wants nothing changed. Short of changing those areas to images (which Fred is loath to do), he wonders if there is a way to lock or protect those areas so he can still use global replacing in the rest of the document.
The only way to do this is to place the information you don't want changed into its own section, and then protect that section. Specifically, place a continuous section break just before what you want to protect and then place one just after the information. Then, apply the protection as described in this tip:
https://tips.net/T7071
If your document includes multiple blocks of text that need to be protected, you'll need to mark each of those blocks with section breaks and apply the protection to each of them.
Once successfully completed, you can use Replace All in your document, and the info in protected sections will not be disturbed.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (10271) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
When searching for text, Word can helpfully highlight all instances of what is found. If you want that highlighting to be ...
Discover MoreYou can use Word's Find and Replace capabilities to replace text (like an asterisk) with a footnote. This tip explains ...
Discover MoreSometimes you'll run across the need to replace a very specific sequence of characters in your document. It is for these ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2022-06-25 06:57:11
Timothy Rylatt
"The only way to do this is to place the information you don't want changed into its own section, and then protect that section."
This is incorrect. The text can be placed inside a Rich Text Content Control with its properties set to disable editing and deletion.
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments