XL97: No Warning with Incorrect Data Validation Setting

ID: Q170231

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

If you use data validation in Microsoft Excel to specify that a cell value must be between two numbers, and you incorrectly set maximum and minimum values, an error message that indicates the setting is incorrect may fail to appear.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

You set maximum and minimum values for a range of valid values in the Data Validation dialog box.
```
    -and-
```
The values you specify in the Minimum and Maximum boxes are references to other cells that contain values that are not valid.

For example, enter 1 in cell A1 and 10 in cell A2, select cell A3, and then click Validation on the Data menu. Select the following data validation settings for cell A3, and then click OK.

   Setting     Value
   --------------------------------------------------------------

   Allow:      Whole Number (or Decimal, Date, Time, Text length)
   Date:       between
   Minimum:    =A2
   Maximum:    =A1

Note that you do not receive an error message that indicates the maximum value must be greater than the minimum value.

If you specify 10 in the Minimum box and 1 in the Maximum box, you receive the following error message:

   The Maximum must be greater than or equal to the Minimum.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, enter the actual numbers in the Maximum and Minimum boxes instead of references to cells that contain values.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

REFERENCES

For more information about data validation, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

   data validation, restriction options

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Types of data restrictions" topic.

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kberrmsg
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: October 31, 1998