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alpha numeric data validation for excel

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brd...@gmail.com

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Nov 28, 2008, 12:23:44 PM11/28/08
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I want to use a non vb formula in data validation for an excel formula
to make the user enter the first 2 characters of a field as UPPERCASE
letters i.e. AB12345 - the format is always the same 2 letters 5
numbers.

Any ideas?

vezerid

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Nov 28, 2008, 1:07:31 PM11/28/08
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With the validated cell being A2:

=PRODUCT(--(CODE(MID(A2,ROW(INDIRECT("1:2")),1))>=65))*PRODUCT(--(CODE
(MID(A2,ROW(INDIRECT("1:2")),1))<=90))*PRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(--MID(A2,ROW
(INDIRECT("3:7")),1)))

A bit complex but ensures that no . or E will be used in the last five
digits.

HTH
Kostis Vezerides

T. Valko

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Nov 28, 2008, 2:17:19 PM11/28/08
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That allows more than 7 characters:

AB12345xxxxxx
AB1234567890

This seems to work:

=SUM(2-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(LEFT(A2,2),CHAR(ROW(INDIRECT("65:90"))),"")),--(COUNT(-MID(A2,ROW(INDIRECT("3:7")),1))=5),--(LEN(A2)=7))=4

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"vezerid" <vez...@act.edu> wrote in message
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vezerid

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Nov 28, 2008, 2:38:23 PM11/28/08
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Biff,

thanks for the new ideas you gave me.

Kostis

On Nov 28, 9:17 pm, "T. Valko" <biffinp...@comcast.net> wrote:
> That allows more than 7 characters:
>
> AB12345xxxxxx
> AB1234567890
>
> This seems to work:
>
> =SUM(2-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(LEFT(A2,2),CHAR(ROW(INDIRECT("65:90"))),"")),--(COUNT(-MID(A2,ROW(INDIRECT("3:7")),1))=5),--(LEN(A2)=7))=4
>
> --
> Biff
> Microsoft Excel MVP
>

> "vezerid" <veze...@act.edu> wrote in message

Rick Rothstein

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Nov 28, 2008, 2:40:41 PM11/28/08
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Here is an even shorter formula that also seems to work...

=AND(EXACT(LEFT(A1,2),UPPER(LEFT(A1,2))),SUMPRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(--MID(A1,ROW($1:$99),1)))=5)

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"T. Valko" <biffi...@comcast.net> wrote in message
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T. Valko

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Nov 28, 2008, 2:49:19 PM11/28/08
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Glad to help.

I'm always looking for new ideas myself!

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

"vezerid" <vez...@act.edu> wrote in message

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Rick Rothstein

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Nov 28, 2008, 2:51:27 PM11/28/08
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Cancel that... this formula lets in unacceptable entries.

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


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T. Valko

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Nov 28, 2008, 2:57:59 PM11/28/08
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Try entering this:

' 12345

That is: apostrophe<space><space>12345

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

"Rick Rothstein" <rick.new...@NO.SPAMverizon.net> wrote in message
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Rick Rothstein

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Nov 28, 2008, 3:09:26 PM11/28/08
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Your message was sent before you saw my second posting acknowledging the
formula didn't work... it lets lots of things through that the OP wouldn't
want.

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Rick (MVP - Excel)


"T. Valko" <biffi...@comcast.net> wrote in message

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Rick Rothstein

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Nov 28, 2008, 3:40:17 PM11/28/08
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Okay, this is only a little shorter, but it does get rid of the volatile
function calls (I wonder if that matter in a validation formula)...

=SUMPRODUCT(--(ABS(CODE(MID(A20,ROW($1:$2),1))-77.5)<=12.5))+SUMPRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(--MID(A20,ROW($3:$99),1)))=7

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"T. Valko" <biffi...@comcast.net> wrote in message
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T. Valko

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Nov 28, 2008, 5:31:24 PM11/28/08
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>=SUMPRODUCT(--(ABS(CODE(MID(A20,ROW($1:$2),1))-77.5)<=12.5))+SUMPRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(--MID(A20,ROW($3:$99),1)))=7

>it does get rid of the volatile function calls (I wonder if that matter in
>a validation formula)

Well, it leaves the formula vulnerable to row insertions and it accepts more
than 7 characters. It appears that a formula with a volatile function used
as a validation rule doesn't "act" volatile. In a test file I entered the
validation rule using INDIRECT. Closed the file, opened the file, didn't do
anything at all, then closed the file without Excel asking if I wanted to
save changes ( a telltale sign that a volatile function is in use)

We can shorten it by a few more keystrokes while at the same time adding a
length test since a formula entered in a refedit is automatically processed
as an array:

=SUM(--(LEN(A2)=7),--(ABS(CODE(MID(A2,ROW($1:$2),1))-77.5)<=12.5),COUNT(-MID(A2,ROW($3:$7),1)))=8

So, as long as you don't insert new rows (in certain places) that looks
pretty good.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

"Rick Rothstein" <rick.new...@NO.SPAMverizon.net> wrote in message

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Rick Rothstein

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Nov 28, 2008, 6:08:27 PM11/28/08
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Doh... of course it needed a LEN test (can't believe I missed that).

So then, I guess INDIRECT is indirect only when used directly.<g>

Yes, using the automatic array process is definitely better. Of course, I
tested my logic out on the grid directly and used SUMPRODUCT during testing
to avoid hitting the Ctrl+Shift+Enter (just lazy on my part); then, because
my wife wanted to use the computer, I rushed posting my findings without
even thinking about the array processing part of it.

Thanks for catching all the issue I missed.

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


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Ashish Mathur

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Nov 28, 2008, 8:32:55 PM11/28/08
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Hi,

Try this formula. While in cell B85, enter this in Data > Validation >
Custom.

=AND(LEN(B85)=7,CODE(LEFT(B85,1))>=65,CODE(LEFT(B85,1))<=90,CODE(MID(B85,2,1))>=65,CODE(MID(B85,2,1))<=90,ISNUMBER(1*RIGHT(B85,5)))

--
Regards,

Ashish Mathur
Microsoft Excel MVP
www.ashishmathur.com

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Rick Rothstein

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Nov 28, 2008, 8:59:26 PM11/28/08
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That formula fails when the number part has a decimal point or an E (or e)
in it. For example, try these values...

AB123.5

AB123e5

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


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Harlan Grove

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Nov 28, 2008, 9:33:50 PM11/28/08
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"T. Valko" <biffinp...@comcast.net> wrote...
...

>This seems to work:
>
>=SUM(2-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(LEFT(A2,2),CHAR(ROW(INDIRECT("65:90"))),"")),
>--(COUNT(-MID(A2,ROW(INDIRECT("3:7")),1))=5),--(LEN(A2)=7))=4
...

Or avoiding the volatile INDIRECT function but taking advantage of
ASCII encoding,

=AND(LEN(x)=7,ABS(CODE(MID(x,{1;2},1))-77.5)<13,COUNT(-MID(x,
{3;4;5;6;7},1))=5)

Ashish Mathur

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Nov 28, 2008, 9:45:25 PM11/28/08
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Hi,

Thank you for your comments. In the original question, it has been
mentioned that the last 5 characters are numbers - therefore the possibility
of having a . or e is ruled out.

--
Regards,

Ashish Mathur
Microsoft Excel MVP
www.ashishmathur.com

"Rick Rothstein" <rick.new...@NO.SPAMverizon.net> wrote in message
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Rick Rothstein

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Nov 28, 2008, 10:01:45 PM11/28/08
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The OP was after a Data/Validation formula that would guarantee a user's
input was of the form letter-letter-number-number-number-number-number...
that is the desired entry format... that doesn't mean the user will *always*
type in such an entry... for example, the user could type in AB123e5 by
mistake (accidentally hitting the 'e' when he/she went for the '4' instead)
or he/she could type in AB123.4 just to be mischievous... I would think the
Data/Validation formula should be able to handle such occurrences.

--
Rick (MVP - Excel)


"Ashish Mathur" <mathur...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

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T. Valko

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Nov 28, 2008, 10:22:41 PM11/28/08
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"Harlan Grove" <hrl...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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Nice one, Harlan.

I should've realized we could use array constants rather than
ROW(INDIRECT(...)) since it's only a few characters.

About the volatile INDIRECT...

> "T. Valko" wrote...


>It appears that a formula with a volatile function used
>as a validation rule doesn't "act" volatile. In a test file
>I entered the validation rule using INDIRECT. Closed
>the file, opened the file, didn't do anything at all, then
>closed the file without Excel asking if I wanted to save
>changes ( a telltale sign that a volatile function is in use)

Any thoughts on that?

Ashish Mathur

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Nov 29, 2008, 12:19:18 AM11/29/08
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Hi,

Agreed. Thank you for the clarification.

--
Regards,

Ashish Mathur
Microsoft Excel MVP
www.ashishmathur.com

"Rick Rothstein" <rick.new...@NO.SPAMverizon.net> wrote in message

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Harlan Grove

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Nov 29, 2008, 1:29:09 PM11/29/08
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"T. Valko" <biffinp...@comcast.net> wrote...
...
>About the volatile INDIRECT...
>
>>"T. Valko" wrote...
>>It appears that a formula with a volatile function used
>>as a validation rule doesn't "act" volatile. In a test file
>>I entered the validation rule using INDIRECT. Closed
>>the file, opened the file, didn't do anything at all, then
>>closed the file without Excel asking if I wanted to save
>>changes ( a telltale sign that a volatile function is in use)
>
>Any thoughts on that?

Validation rules only apply when you enter something into cells with
validation rules. If you're not entering anything, e.g., when saving
files, then the validation rule wouldn't be evaluated. Key point:
validation rules are OUTSIDE the calculation dependency tree.

Validation permits initial entry, which in turn triggers minimal
recalc, which also recalcs all formulas that call volatile functions,
then evaluates the validation rule and takes appropriate action. In
that context, custom validation formulas are ALWAYS volatile no matter
what functions they call since validation rules are ALWAYS evaluated
upon entry.

Also, FWIW, if you select multiple cells, if the active cell doesn't
contain a validation rule but other selectedd cells do contain
validation rules, you could type anything you want in the active cell
and press [Ctrl]+[Enter], and Excel will happily enter the active
cell's value into all the cells without triggering validation in the
other selected cells. IOW, validation rules are only evaluated for the
active cell at the time of entry. And, as commonly known, validation
isn't triggered by pasting into cells with validation rules. If the
OP's users could be pasting values in from other programs (e.g.,
copying from PDF files), no validation rule will help. Only event
handlers and validation formulas in other cells provide relatively
robust validation. Excel's own Data Validation feature is an
unreliable toy, as industrial strength (NOT!) as internal passwords.

T. Valko

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Nov 29, 2008, 1:33:41 PM11/29/08
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--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

"T. Valko" <biffi...@comcast.net> wrote in message

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> "Harlan Grove" <hrl...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:80f3b032-37b9-4d80...@40g2000prx.googlegroups.com...
>> "T. Valko" <biffinp...@comcast.net> wrote...
>> ...
>>>This seems to work:
>>>
>>>=SUM(2-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(LEFT(A2,2),CHAR(ROW(INDIRECT("65:90"))),"")),
>>>--(COUNT(-MID(A2,ROW(INDIRECT("3:7")),1))=5),--(LEN(A2)=7))=4
>> ...
>>
>> Or avoiding the volatile INDIRECT function but taking advantage of
>> ASCII encoding,
>>
>> =AND(LEN(x)=7,ABS(CODE(MID(x,{1;2},1))-77.5)<13,COUNT(-MID(x,
>> {3;4;5;6;7},1))=5)
>
> Nice one, Harlan.
>
> I should've realized we could use array constants rather than
> ROW(INDIRECT(...)) since it's only a few characters.

Ooops!

I can't believe that between us we didn't catch this...

Can't use array constants in a Data>Validation>Custom rule.

Harlan Grove

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Nov 29, 2008, 2:02:34 PM11/29/08
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"T. Valko" <biffinp...@comcast.net> wrote...
...
>Ooops!
>
>I can't believe that between us we didn't catch this...
>
>Can't use array constants in a Data>Validation>Custom rule.

OK, should have causght that.

=AND(ABS(CODE(A1)-77.5)<13,ABS(CODE(MID(A1,2,1))-77.5)<13,
COUNT(1/(MID(A1,3,6)=TEXT(--MID(A1,3,5),"00000"))))

Note that the 6 as 3rd arg in the 1st MID call is intentional. It
eliminates the need for a LEN test.

T. Valko

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Nov 29, 2008, 11:28:04 PM11/29/08
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"Harlan Grove" <hrl...@gmail.com> wrote in message

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>COUNT(1/(MID(A1,3,6)=TEXT(--MID(A1,3,5),"00000")))

This seems to work just as well:

MID(A1,3,6)=TEXT(--MID(A1,3,5),"00000")

nelso...@gmail.com

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Mar 16, 2016, 11:05:05 AM3/16/16
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Thanks a bunch, very helpful. Can you advise me on how to make changes to the validation rule if I wanted it to end with an 'Alphabet'??

comin

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Mar 17, 2016, 5:17:00 PM3/17/16
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