Topic: Data Validation

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Adding Pop-Up Documentation to a Cell Want to have a small help screen pop up when a user selects a particular cell? This can be done by using data validation, as described in this tip. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Changing Fonts in Data Validation Drop-Down Lists When you use Excel’s data validation features to create a drop-down list, you might not be pleased with Excel’s choice of fonts for the list. Unfortunately, you may be out of luck if you want to modify Excel’s choices. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Drop-Down List of Hyperlinks Creating a drop-down list with Excel’s data validation feature can be a nice touch for a worksheet. What if you want the drop-down list to include active hyperlinks? While Excel doesn’t allow you to create this, there are a couple of workarounds you can use. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Ensuring Unique Values in a Column If you want to make sure that only unique values are entered in a particular column, you can use the data validation capabilities of Excel to your advantage. It’s easier than you think, as this tip shows. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

External Data Validation Data validation allows you to control what information is entered into a worksheet. Validating based on information internal to a workbook is easy; validating to information in another workbook can be a real pain. This tip explains how to make it all work. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Limiting Entries to Numeric Values Excel allows you to control what users can put into a cell. Using data validation, you can specify exactly what people can enter, and then Excel enforces your wishes. This tip explains how you can use this feature to make sure that only numeric values can be placed in a cell. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Limiting Entry of Names When setting up a worksheet for data entry purposes, you may want to limit what can be entered in a cell. This tip explains how you can make sure that someone cannot enter into a cell something that was previously entered in the same column. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Limiting Input to a Format When setting up a worksheet for others to use, you might want to make some limitations on what can be entered in certain cells. This tip provides a couple of different techniques you can use to impose the limitations. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Making a Drop-Down List Indicator Visible You can use the data validation capabilities in Excel to create a drop-down list. The drop-down control is visible whenever the cell in question is selected. If you want the drop-down list to be visible at other times, then you will need to use a different method of creating the list. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Setting Data Validation Input Messages If you are using data validation in a worksheet, you can instruct Excel to display a message every time the validating cell is selected. The message can provide helpful information to the user, and can contain both a title and message body. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Single-Use Drop-Down List Want to create an easy drop-down list? You can do so by using the data validation features of Excel. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Specifying a Data Validation Error Message Data validation is a great tool that helps you control exactly what can be entered in a cell. Part of data validation allows you to specify an error message that can be displayed if the user enters the wrong type of data. This tip explains how to set up that error message. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

Triggering a Macro for Drop-Down List Changes Excel 97 has a bug that causes the Worksheet_Calculate event not to trigger when someone picks a value from a data validation drop-down list. This tip discusses the problem, along with some ways you can compensate for it. Microsoft Excel versions: 97

Using Data Validation Data validation is very helpful when creating worksheets into which others will enter data. The feature allows you to specify criteria that user input must meet in order for the entry to be accepted. This tip explains how you can set a data validation rule for a user input cell. Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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