XL98: Cells with Data Validation Accept Invalid Entries If Value Is Not Entered Manually (180721)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q180721

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, cells to which you have applied data validation restrictions (using the Validation command on the Data menu) may accept invalid values.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when any of the following conditions are true:
  • You select a range of cells that includes a cell to which you have applied data validation restrictions, the active cell is not a cell with data validation restrictions, and you type an invalid data value and press CTRL+RETURN.

    NOTE: These steps insert the value you typed into all the selected cells. -or-

  • You programmatically insert an invalid value into a cell to which you have applied data validation restrictions. -or-

  • You copy an invalid value from a cell and paste it into a cell to which you have applied data validation restrictions. -or-

  • You drag an invalid value from a cell to a cell to which you have applied data validation restrictions.

    NOTE: If you copy, drag, or fill an invalid value to a cell to which you applied data validation restrictions, the data validation restrictions are removed from the cell. -or-

  • You use the AutoFill feature to fill an invalid value in a cell to which you have applied data validation restrictions.
When you apply data validation restrictions to a cell, Microsoft Excel 98 validates the data only when you manually type the value in the cell.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel 98, you can specify the kind of data that is valid for individual cells or ranges of cells. Data validation allows you to do the following:
  • Create a list of the entries that restrict the valid data values
  • Create a prompt that explains the kind of data that is valid for a given cell
  • Create a message that appears when incorrect data is typed
  • Check for incorrect entries by using the Auditing toolbar
  • Set a range of numeric values that can be entered into a cell
  • Determine if an entry is valid based on a calculation in another cell

REFERENCES

For more information about data validation, click the Index button in Microsoft Excel Help, and type the following text:

data validation, adding restrictions

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Types of data restrictions" topic.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/28/2005
Keywords:kbnofix kbprb kbui KB180721
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