Microsoft® Office Excel 2003 Inside Out

Validating Data Entry

In ordinary lists or in list objects that have not been linked to SharePoint, you can enforce data-entry criteria by choosing Data, Validation. You can specify the type of data you'll allow (whole numbers, dates, or times, for example), as well as the range of acceptable values. You can even set up a list of allowed values (the names of your operating divisions, for example) and have Excel create a drop-down list of those values. Whoever uses your list can then select a valid entry from the drop-down list.

Note

Data validation rules are not accepted in linked list objects because SharePoint cannot enforce such rules. To set up validation criteria in a linked list object, open the list in SharePoint and click Modify Settings ...