alpha numeric data validation for excel

[brdoel]

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]

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]

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


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

 

[vezerid]

Biff,

thanks for the new ideas you gave me.

Kostis

 

[Rick Rothstein]

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)

 

[T. Valko]

Glad to help.

I'm always looking for new ideas myself!

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


Biff,

thanks for the new ideas you gave me.

Kostis

 

[Rick Rothstein]

Cancel that... this formula lets in unacceptable entries.

 

[T. Valko]

Try entering this:

' 12345

That is: apostrophe<space><space>12345

 

[Rick Rothstein]

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.

 

[Rick Rothstein]

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

 

[T. Valko]

=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.

 

[Rick Rothstein]

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.

 

[Ashish Mathur]

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

 

[Rick Rothstein]

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

 

[Harlan Grove]

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]

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]

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.

 

[T. Valko]

...

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.

About the volatile INDIRECT...

...
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]

Hi,

Agreed. Thank you for the clarification.

--
Regards,

Ashish Mathur
Microsoft Excel MVP
www.ashishmathur.com

 

[Harlan Grove]

About the volatile INDIRECT...


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.