One way...

A1 = 0001-000

You'd have to preformat B1 and C1 as TEXT.

Then as data validation formulas:

In B1:

=EXACT(LEFT(A1,4),B1)

In C1:

=EXACT(RIGHT(A1,3),C1)

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"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?