FreeOffice: Input validation is not included in SoftMaker FreeOffice.
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 limits (for example, only values between 10 and 20) are considered valid in this cell.
▪Display an info text whenever the user goes to this cell (for example, "Please enter only numbers between 10 and 20.").
▪Display an error, warning or information message if the user nevertheless enters values that do not match the input validation.
This is useful when you are creating tables that will be filled in by other people and you want to prevent invalid values from being entered.
Applying input validation (example)
If, for example, 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 and set limits for the allowed values. |
| In our example, you would set the following: |
| Allow: "Decimal numbers" |
| with values: "between" |
| Minimum: 10 |
| Maximum: 20 |
| 4. | On the Input message tab, you have the option of entering an info text that will be displayed whenever the user goes to the cell. |
| For example, you could add the message, "Please only enter numbers between 10 and 20." Of course, you can also refrain from entering an input message. |
| 5. | On the Error message tab, you can specify the message that should appear when the user types invalid values into the cells. |
| The icons in the Type area allow you to choose the type of error message that is displayed. (See explanation below.) |
Important: The type of message also determines whether the user is actually allowed to enter invalid values. PlanMaker strictly rejects invalid entries only when the type Error message (first icon) is selected!
| Furthermore, you can enter the actual text of the message. If you do not enter anything, a default message will be issued. |
| For our example, set the type to Error message by clicking on the first icon and enter the desired message (for example, the title "Invalid entry" and the text "Only numbers between 10 and 20 are allowed here.") |
| 6. | Confirm with OK. |
Only values between 10 and 20 will now be permitted in the selected cells. If the user enters something else, an error message will appear.
Note: Input validation only becomes active when the user types in values. If the user pastes invalid values into the cell through a copy and paste operation (for example, with the ribbon command File | Paste), however, input validation will not intervene!
For more information on the options of the dialog box Input validation, see the next section Settings for input validation.
Disabling input validation again
If you want to disable the input validation again, select the relevant cells and proceed as follows:
On the ribbon tab Home | group Contents | Delete 
, choose the command Input validation in the dropdown menu.
Alternatively, you can use the ribbon command Review | Input validation again. In the dialog box on the Settings tab, select "All values" again under Allow:.