Microsoft Word 2007 - Locking Content

To lock content in a document in Word 2007 you first of all have to have the Developer Tab displayed. To do this, click on the Office button > Word Options and on the Popular page ensure that Show Developer Tab in Ribbon is checked.

Select the text that you want to protect and then click the Group command in the Controls group on the Developer Tab. Select Group. Now when you try to make changes to the locked content, the error message "This modification is not allowed because the selection is locked" is displayed in the Status Bar. Although locked content cannot be changed, it can de deleted. That is, unless you click on the properties button in the same group and check Content Control Cannot Be Deleted.