Data validation

The Desktop Office Spreadsheet Editor offers a data validation feature that controls the parameters of the information entered in cells by users.

To access the data validation feature, choose a cell, a range of cells, or a whole spreadsheet you want to apply the feature to, open the Data tab, and click the Data Validation icon on the top toolbar. The opened Data Validation window contains three tabs: Settings, Input Message, and Error Alert.

Settings

The Settings section allows you to specify the type of data that can be entered:

• choose the required option in the Allow menu:

  • Any value: no limitations on information type.

  • Whole number: only whole numbers are allowed.

  • Decimal: only numbers with a decimal point are allowed.

  • List: only options from the drop-down list you created are allowed. Uncheck the Show drop-down list in cell box to hide the dropdown arrow.

    

  • Date: only cells with the date format are allowed.

  • Time: only cells with the time format are allowed.

  • Text length: sets the characters limit.

  • Other: sets the necessary validation parameter given as a formula.

• specify a validation condition in the Data menu:

  • between: the data in cells should be within the range set by the validation rule.

  • not between: the data in cells should not be within the range set by the validation rule.

  • equals: the data in cells should be equal to the value set by the validation rule.

  • does not equal: the data in cells should not be equal to the value set by the validation rule.

  • greater than: the data in cells should exceed the values set by the validation rule.

  • less than: the data in cells should be less than the values set by the validation rule.

  • greater than or equal to: the data in cells should exceed or be equal to the value set by the validation rule.

  • less than or equal to: the data in cells should be less than or equal to the value set by the validation rule.

• create a validation rule depending on the allowed information type:

Validation condition	Validation rule	Description	Availability
Between / not between	Minimum / Maximum	Sets the value range	Whole number / Decimal / Text length
	Start date / End date	Sets the date range	Date
	Start time / End time	Sets the time period	Time
Equals / does not equal	Compare to	Sets the value for comparison	Whole number / Decimal
	Date	Sets the date for comparison	Date
	Elapsed time	Sets the time for comparison	Time
	Length	Sets the text length value for comparison	Text length
Greater than / greater than or equal to	Minimum	Sets the lower limit	Whole number / Decimal / Text length
	Start date	Sets the starting date	Date
	Start time	Sets the starting time	Time
Less than / less than or equal to	Maximum	Sets the higher limit	Whole number / Decimal / Text length
	End date	Sets the ending date	Date
	End time	Sets the ending time	Time

As well as:

• Source: provide the source of information for the List information type.

• Formula: enter the required formula to create a custom validation rule for the Other information type.

Input Message

The Input Message section allows you to create a customized message displayed when a user hovers their mouse pointer over the cell.

• Specify the Title and the body of your Input Message.

• Uncheck the Show input message when cell is selected to disable the display of the message. Leave it to display the message.

Error Alert

The Error Alert section allows you to specify the message displayed when the data given by users does not meet the validation rules.

• Style: choose one of the available presets, Stop, Alert, or  Message.

• Title: specify the title of the alert message.

• Error Message: enter the text of the alert message.

• Uncheck the Show error alert after invalid data is entered box to disable the display of the alert message.