As in prior versions, Excel 2007 enables you to set up data validation that you can use to ensure that accurate values are entered in a list or table. For example, you can specify that a field can only hold a whole number between two other values, or a date after a particular point in time.

To set values and parameters for data validation, follow these steps:

1. Click the column heading (column letter) for the field you want to apply the data validation to.
2. Select Data?Data Tools?Data Validation from the Ribbon.
3. Click the Settings tab in the Data Validation dialog box (see Figure 19-8).
   
4. Choose from one of the values under Allow (for a description of these values, see Table 19-1).

TABLE 19-1
Value Settings for Data Validation

Any Value No restrictions
Whole Number Restricted to numbers without decimals
Decimal Restricted to numbers, but allows decimals
List Restricted to a preset list of options
Date Restricted to calendar data
Time Restricted to clock data
Text Length Restricted to specified length
Custom Restricted to custom formula

TABLE 19-2
Options for Data Validation Values

Between The value must fall between minimum and maximum values.
Not between The value must not be between the specified values.
Equal to The value must be the same as the specified value.
Not equal to The value must not be the specified value.
Greater than The value must be more than the specified value.
Less than The value must be less than the specified value.
Greater than or equal to The value must be the same as or more than the specified value.
Less than or equal to The value must be the same as or less than the specified value.

The Clear All button on the bottom of the Data Validation dialog box doesn’t just clear the entries on the currently selected tab. It clears all the entries on all three tabs. Don’t use it unless you mean to do that. If you click Clear All by mistake, clicking Cancel will restore the cleared values if they were previously entered and accepted.

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