In a previous tip I talked about how to lock a Word document so that others cannot change what you have created. One of the options was to restrict editing. I am going to expand on the possibilities of this option here. This is an option where you can choose which parts of the document you have created can be changed by somebody else and which parts cannot. This can also be used to allow people to fill in a form without changing the form layout.
This tip will investigate just one part of this feature – restricting the formatting of a document. Look out for the next tip in this subject.
Firstly make sure that you are completely happy with the contents and the layout of your document. Know which styles you have used in the document, taking note of them may well save you time later. I would always suggest that you have a perfect copy of that final document to refer to at a later date if necessary.
Here is a sample document that I shall be using for this exercise. 
I have purposely used Latin as the language and blue, green and orange to highlight the styles more easily.
Selecting restrict Editing
- Select the File Tab.
- Select Info from the list.
- Select Protect Document.
- Select Restrict Editing.
An area appears on the right-hand side of your screen showing you two options for restricting edits. 
The first allows you to limit the amount of styles that can be used in this document. Thus keeping the “House Style or look” of your company in this document, by whoever uses it in the future. 
The [Settings… button] opens up the list of all the styles your system holds. 
By unchecking the boxes you do not allow those particular styles to be used. To select only a few, select the [None Button] and then scroll through the list and check against the one you made earlier to tick the styles you wish only to be used.
There are three further options that you may wish to use.
- Allow AutoFormat to override formatting restrictions.
AutoFormat is a feature that automatically formats text or data based on predefined styles or rules. This saves time and ensures consistency in the appearance of the content.
- Block Theme or Scheme switching.
- Block Quick Style Set switching.
This prevents a user from modifying the settings of the formatting by applying a Quick Style. The Quick Styles are found in the Styles section of the Home tab. 
Once you are satisfied that you have set the required restrictions, move to the third option in the right-hand pane.
- Select the button [Yes, Start Enforcing Protection].
- This question appears for you to answer [Yes] to remove all other styles that you do not allow to be used in the document.
When a user tries to access other styles in the Quick Styles box, they will find only the ones you allow to be used. 
- You are prompted to use a password to protect your document with the restrictions in place.
Do not lose this password.
- Save and close the file and inform people of it’s existence.
N.B. Should you require to change anything in the document then you will have to unprotect the document by going through the first few points in the tip.
Amending Restrict Editing
- Select the File Tab.
- Select Info from the list.
- Select Protect Document.
- Select Restrict Editing.
Once in the [Restrict Editing pane] on the right of your window, select the [Stop Protection button] at the bottom of the pane and type in your password.
You are now able to update and modify this document and then protect it as you require for the use of others.
