You are having your users type a number in column A and then type the SAME
number in two parts in columns B and C? If that is what you are saying, why
not let Excel do all the work in columns B and C. Assuming the first row the
user can enter data in is A2, then put this formula in B2

=LEFT(A2,FIND("-",A2)-1)

and put this formula in C2...

=MID(A2,FIND("-",A2)+1,3)

and copy it down.

Rick


and then copy it down
"JICDB" wrote in message
...
I have a project code in column A formatted as general and the user should
be
entering 4 digits dash 3 digits (0001-000). In column B and C the user
needs
to break out each part of those numbers. In B they need to type 0001 and
in
C they type 000. I wanted to place a data validation in B that gives the
user an error message is the number typed in B do not equal the left 4
characters in A. Same for B with the right 3 characters of A. I've tried
a
few things but I can't get the formula right. Any ideas?