Requiring user input before exiting a cell

[CindyB]

I'm feeling really frustrated here, but can someone help me with requiring a
user to enter data in a cell before they can leave the cell?

I have a drop down box for the cell, and have unchecked 'ignore blank' in
the data validation, but I can still move past the cell without picking
something from the list.

I need to be able to force the user to fill in specific cells in the row,
from drop down boxes, as they move across the worksheet. If they do not
choose from the drop-down box, I need the cursor to stay in that cell and
force them to choose.

Can I do that in Excel?

Warning: My VBA skills are really, really bad.........

thanks - Cindy Butler

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

I'm feeling really frustrated here, but can someone help me with requiring a
user to enter data in a cell before they can leave the cell?

I have a drop down box for the cell, and have unchecked 'ignore blank' in
the data validation, but I can still move past the cell without picking
something from the list.

I need to be able to force the user to fill in specific cells in the row,
from drop down boxes, as they move across the worksheet. If they do not
choose from the drop-down box, I need the cursor to stay in that cell and
force them to choose.

Can I do that in Excel?

Warning: My VBA skills are really, really bad.........

thanks - Cindy Butler

Unfortunately, you can't do this just within Excel without additional code.
However, what you can do, is put a formula in another conspicuous cell that
looks some thing like:
=If(len(a1)*len(d1)*len(a5)=0,"You must enter all the data","")
Use conditional formatting to make this really garish. Substitute your cells
for those above. You could do this in groups with more meaningful error
messages, if necessary.