If you have a sheet that contains confidential information, such as employee salaries, you can hide the values of those cells by using a custom number format.
Hide cell values
When you hide a value in a cell, the cell appears to be empty. However, the formula bar still contains the value.
- Select the cells.
- On the Format menu, click Cells, and then click the Number tab.
- Under Category, click Custom.
- In the Type box, type ;;; (that is, three semicolons in a row), and then click OK.
Display hidden cell values
- Select the cells.
- On the Format menu, click Cells, and then click the Number tab.
- Under Category, click General (or any appropriate date, time, or number format other than Custom), and then click OK.