When you apply input validation to a cell, you can achieve the following:
▪Ensure that only certain types of values (for example, numbers) within certain bounds (for example, between 10 and 20) are considered valid in this cell.
▪Display an informational text whenever the user goes to this cell (for example, "Please enter only numbers between 10 and 20.").
▪Display an error, warning or informational message window when the user tries to input values that do not pass validation.
This is useful when you are creating tables that will be filled out by other people and you want to prevent invalid values from being entered.
Apply input validation (example)
For instance, if you would like to limit the input of a certain cell to numeric values between 10 and 20, you would proceed as follows:
| 1. | Select the desired cells. |
| 2. | Choose the ribbon command Review | Input validation  . |
| 3. | On the Settings tab, you can specify which types of values are permitted as well as their bounds. |
| For our example, you would choose the following: |
| Allow: "Decimal Numbers" |
| With Values: "between" |
| Minimum: 10 |
| Maximum: 20 |
| 4. | On the Input message tab, you can enter informational text that is displayed whenever the user goes to the cell. |
| For our example, enter here, "Please enter only numbers between 10 and 20." Of course, you can also leave the input message blank. |
| 5. | On the Error message tab, you can enter text that is displayed in a message box when the user attempts to input invalid data into the cell. |
| The icons in the Type area allow you to choose the type of error window that is shown. (See explanation below.) |
Important: The type of the error window also determines whether the user is actually allowed to enter invalid values. PlanMaker strictly rejects invalid data only when the type Error message (first icon) is selected!
| Furthermore, you can enter the actual text of the message. If nothing is entered, a standard message is given. |
| For our example, set the type to Error message by clicking the first icon and enter the desired message (e.g., the title "Invalid entry" and the text "Only numbers between 10 and 20 are allowed here.") |
| 6. | Confirm with OK. |
Now, only values between 10 and 20 will be permitted in the selected cells. Should the user input something else, an error message is displayed.
Note: Input validation is only active when the user enters values by typing them in. Should the user paste invalid values into the cell through a copy and paste operation (for example, with the ribbon command File | Paste), input validation will not intervene!
For detailed information on the options of the dialog box Input validation, see the next section Settings for input validation.
Deactivate input validation again
If you want to deactivate the input validation again, select the desired cells and proceed as follows
On the ribbon tab Home | group Contents | Delete 
, choose the command Input validation from the dropdown menu.
Alternatively, you can use the ribbon command Review | Input validation again. Select "All values" again in the dialog box on the Settings tab under Allow: