Excel Data Validation

Let's talk about Data Validation, a function so user-friendly and powerful yet always ignored! It allows you to specify formatting of cells in spreadsheet.

Data validation can be used to prompt users entering requested information. Excel will validate whether the data entered is valid. Otherwise it will prompt and error message. The purpose of this function is to restrict the type and range of data to be entered into a cell.

Types of Data Validation:

• Whole Number
o E.g. Specify the range of numbers to enter

• Decimal
o E.g. Specify the range of numbers with decimals to enter

• List
o E.g. Place an in-cell drop down menu

• Date
o E.g. Specify a range of date to enter

• Time

• Text Length
o E.g. Restrict the length of text

• Custom

Types of Conditions in Data Validation:

• Between

• Not Between

• Equal to

• Not Equal to

• Greater than

• Less than

• Greater than or equal to

• Less than or equal to