# Protecting Content in %PRODUCTNAME Writer

/text/swriter/guide/protection.xhp
indexes;unprotecting
tables of contents;unprotecting
tables;protecting/unprotecting cells
sections;protecting/unprotecting
unprotecting tables of contents and indexes
protecting;tables and sections
cells;protecting/unprotecting
mw transferred 4 index entries from shared/guide/protection.xhp, then changed "sections;" and "tables;", then added 3 new entries
Protecting Content in %PRODUCTNAME Writer
The following is an overview of the different ways of protecting contents in %PRODUCTNAME Writer from being modified, deleted or viewed.
Protecting Sections in %PRODUCTNAME Writer
Any section of a %PRODUCTNAME Writer text document can be protected against changes with a password.
This protection is not intended to be a secure protection. It is just a switch to protect the section against accidental changes.

Turning on protection
Select the text. Choose Insert - Section - Section, then under Write protection mark the Protect and With password check boxes. (If the section already exists: Format - Sections.) Enter and confirm a password of at least 5 characters.
Turning off protection
Choose Format - Sections - Section and under Write protection clear the Protect check box. Enter the correct password.

Protecting Cells in a %PRODUCTNAME Writer Table
You can protect the contents of individual cells of a %PRODUCTNAME Writer text table from changes.
This protection is not intended to be a secure protection. It is just a switch to protect the cells against accidental changes.

Turning on protection
Place the cursor in a cell or select cells. Right-click to open the context menu, then choose Cell - Protect.
Turning off protection
Place the cursor in the cell or select the cells. First, if necessary, choose %PRODUCTNAME - Preferences Tools - Options - %PRODUCTNAME Writer - Formatting Aids and mark Cursor in protected areas - Enable. Then right-click the cell to open the context menu, choose Cell - Unprotect.
Select the table in the Navigator, open the context menu and select Table - Unprotect.
Use Shift+Ctrl+T to remove protection for the entire current table or all selected tables.

Automatic Protection of Indexes and Tables
Tables of contents and indexes created automatically in a %PRODUCTNAME Writer text are automatically protected against accidental changes.
This protection is not intended to be a secure protection. It is just a switch to protect the contents against accidental changes.

Turning on protection
Place the cursor in the index/table of contents.
From the context menu choose Edit Index/Table. On the Index/Table tab page, mark Protected against manual changes.
Turning off protection
Place the cursor in the index. First of all, if necessary, under %PRODUCTNAME - Preferences Tools - Options - %PRODUCTNAME Writer - Formatting Aids , mark Cursor in protected areas - Enable.
From the context menu choose Edit Index/Table. On the Index/Table tab page, unmark Protected against manual changes.
In the Navigator, select the index, then open the context menu in the Navigator and select Index - Read-only.

Protecting Other Contents