XL98: Cannot Use Custom Function with Data Validation

ID: Q186056

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you use custom criteria with data validation and attempt to type a custom function in the Formula box in the Data Validation dialog box, the following message appears:

   A named range you specified cannot be found.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when the following conditions are met:

You click Validation on the Data menu, and then click the Settings tab.
```
    -and-
```
You click Custom in the Allow box.
```
    -and-
```
You type a custom function in the Formula box.

By design, when you use custom criteria for data validation, Microsoft Excel accepts only a built-in formula or a defined name in the Formula box.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, type the custom function in a cell on the worksheet, and then type a formula that refers to this cell in the Formula box. For example, type the custom function in cell A1, and then type "=A1" (without the quotation marks) in the Formula box in the Data Validation dialog box.

MORE INFORMATION

The Custom data validation criteria type allows you to type a formula, use an expression, or refer to a calculation in another cell to determine a valid entry. When you type a formula, the formula must evaluate to True or False.

For additional information about data validation, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q181323
   TITLE     : XL98: Description and Examples of Data Validation

REFERENCES

For more information about data validation data types, click the Contents and Index on the Microsoft Excel Help (or on the Balloon Help menu if you are using a version of the Macintosh operating system earlier than 8.0), click the Index button, 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. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.

Additional query words: XL98

Keywords          : kbdta xlvbainfo xlformula 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 25, 1998