I merged 4 cells(E1,F1,G1 & H1) and put Ron's formula into E1 and it worked
OK for me. It rejected alpha strings (abc...) or numbers less 8 digits.

XL2003.

"Connie Martin" wrote:

It also won't let me type 12345678, which is an 8-digit number. The cell is
4 cells merged, but when you click in it, it is identified as E4 so I changed
all the A1 references in your formula to E4 but it won't accept 12345678.

"Ron Coderre" wrote:

Try something like this:

Select the cells to have Data Validation, with A1 as the active cell

<Data<Validation<Settings tab
Allow: Custom
Formula: =AND(A10,INT(A1)=A1,LEN(A1)=8)

Does that help?

***********
Regards,
Ron

XL2002, WinXP-Pro


"Connie Martin" wrote:

I want to validate a cell that it must have an 8-digit number put in it---no
shorter, no longer. No matter how I validate the cell it won't work unless I
select "text length". This is not to be text! It's supposed to be an
8-digit number! What gives? How does one validate this cell to restrict it
to just that? How can something so simple be so contrary?