I am using data validation to allow only one answer per question in a range of five cells per row. (See attachment)
The Problem:
If you type a “X” in one of the cells and use the arrow or enter key, the validation works correctly, but if you type a “X” and use the mouse to click on the next row the validation allows more than one answer.
In other words the validation works different when using keyboard or mouse to accept input.
![]() |
Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
SIGN IN | Not a member? | REGISTER | PLUS MEMBERSHIP |
-
Inconsistant Validation (XL97)
Home » Forums » AskWoody support » Productivity software by function » MS Excel and spreadsheet help » Inconsistant Validation (XL97)
- This topic has 8 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 22 years, 9 months ago.
AuthorTopicWSFrits
AskWoody LoungerAugust 16, 2002 at 6:28 am #375087Viewing 1 reply threadAuthorReplies-
WSLennyJo
AskWoody LoungerAugust 16, 2002 at 6:48 am #608912Just upon cursory glance, I’d question your strategy. Try this instead, I think it’s a lot easier.
Using cells M10:Q10 as an example, validate each cell in the group with =COUNTA($M$10:$Q$10)<2. You can do them all at once, of course. If the person adds an extra X using the mouse or the keyboard it stops them.
See your spreadsheet I'm sending back and look at those cells I reference above. I validated them for you (minus the alert text). It should make sense.
-Lenny
-
WSFrits
AskWoody Lounger -
H. Legare Coleman
AskWoody Plus -
WSFrits
AskWoody LoungerAugust 20, 2002 at 4:39 am #609920Legare
I don’t agree 100% with you. The validation works if I use the enter key after typing in one of the cells. It does not work correctly if I use the mouse to click somewhere else on the sheet after typing in a cell.The following quote comes out of the Excel Help under the heading “Determine valid entries for a cell by using a formula”:
“Before evaluating the formula, Microsoft Excel recalculates the worksheet with the data entered in the cell.”This does not correspond with your statement?
-
H. Legare Coleman
AskWoody PlusAugust 20, 2002 at 1:44 pm #609989It does the same on my system. However, on my system, I see the border appear around the cell which I click on before I see the cell with the formula recalculate which indicates to me that the selection change and validation (since the selection would not change if validation failed) were done before the recalculate. That is, IMHO, a bug in Excel code.
-
WSFrits
AskWoody Lounger -
WSStats
AskWoody LoungerAugust 22, 2002 at 2:47 pm #610720Just to confuse things a little further, in your example, I can click on cell n7, press enter to drop to cell n8, press enter again and not get an error message. Also if I click on cell n8 and add an additional “x” so it reads “xx” and press enter it will give the error message, then if you click cancel then enter you can drop to cell n9 even though it is still an error.
These little boxes we play with every day are just filled with magic, aren’t they!!
Stats
-
-
-
-
WSAladin Akyurek
AskWoody LoungerAugust 17, 2002 at 6:51 am #609229Viewing 1 reply thread -

Plus Membership
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.
Get Plus!
Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.
It's easy to post questions about Windows 11, Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.
Search Newsletters
Search Forums
View the Forum
Search for Topics
Recent Topics
-
Install Office 365 Outlook classic on new Win11 machine
by
WSrcull999
3 hours, 46 minutes ago -
win 10 to win 11 with cpu/mb replacement
by
aquatarkus
1 hour, 16 minutes ago -
re-install Windows Security
by
CWBillow
1 hour, 59 minutes ago -
WWDC 2025 Recap: All of Apple’s NEW Features in 10 Minutes!
by
Alex5723
5 hours, 40 minutes ago -
macOS Tahoe 26
by
Alex5723
2 hours, 1 minute ago -
Migrating from win10 to win11, instructions coming?
by
astro46
6 hours, 53 minutes ago -
Device Eligibility for Apple 2026 Operating Systems due this Fall
by
PKCano
6 hours, 27 minutes ago -
Recommended watching : Mountainhead movie
by
Alex5723
19 hours, 12 minutes ago -
End of support for Windows 10
by
Old enough to know better
4 hours, 34 minutes ago -
What goes on inside an LLM
by
Michael Covington
3 hours, 38 minutes ago -
The risk of remote access
by
Susan Bradley
9 hours, 17 minutes ago -
The cruelest month for many Office users
by
Peter Deegan
15 hours, 51 minutes ago -
Tracking protection and trade-offs in Edge
by
Mary Branscombe
21 hours, 26 minutes ago -
Supreme Court grants DOGE access to confidential Social Security records
by
Alex5723
1 day, 4 hours ago -
EaseUS Partition Master free 19.6
by
Alex5723
4 hours, 41 minutes ago -
Microsoft : Edge is better than Chrome
by
Alex5723
1 day, 17 hours ago -
The EU launched DNS4EU
by
Alex5723
2 days, 6 hours ago -
Cell Phone vs. Traditional Touchtone Phone over POTS
by
280park
1 day, 20 hours ago -
Lost access to all my networked drives (shares) listed in My Computer
by
lwerman
2 days, 11 hours ago -
Set default size for pasted photo to word
by
Cyn
2 days, 17 hours ago -
Dedoimedo tries 24H2…
by
Cybertooth
2 days, 5 hours ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 27871 released to Canary
by
joep517
3 days, 16 hours ago -
Windows 11 ad from Campaign Manager in Windows 10
by
Jim McKenna
1 day, 9 hours ago -
Small desktops
by
Susan Bradley
9 hours, 59 minutes ago -
Totally disable Bitlocker
by
CWBillow
2 days, 10 hours ago -
Phishers extract Millions from HMRC accounts..
by
Microfix
3 days, 14 hours ago -
Windows 10 22H2 Update today (5 June) says up-to-date but last was 2025-04
by
Alan_uk
4 days, 20 hours ago -
Thoughts on Malwarebytes Scam Guard for Mobile?
by
opti1
2 days, 15 hours ago -
Mystical Desktop
by
CWBillow
4 days, 23 hours ago -
Meta and Yandex secretly tracked billions of Android users
by
Alex5723
4 days, 5 hours ago
Recent blog posts
Key Links
Want to Advertise in the free newsletter? How about a gift subscription in honor of a birthday? Send an email to sb@askwoody.com to ask how.
Mastodon profile for DefConPatch
Mastodon profile for AskWoody
Home • About • FAQ • Posts & Privacy • Forums • My Account
Register • Free Newsletter • Plus Membership • Gift Certificates • MS-DEFCON Alerts
Copyright ©2004-2025 by AskWoody Tech LLC. All Rights Reserved.