You can do it with validation but you need to get a bit fancier. Select Cells
B1:E1 with B1 as teh active cell in the selection. Choose Data -
Validation... Custom and add this formula.

=AND(B1="x", COUNTA($B1:$E1)=1)
--
HTH...

Jim Thomlinson


"Ray IDEX" wrote:

I have a spreadsheet that users fill in for an audit. They need to enter an x
in one or four rating columns. I can limit the value entered and force an x
through validaion with no problem.

What I need to do is to allow an x in only one column. There are four rating
columns B, C, D and E. If they put an x in column B, then I do not want them
to be able to put an x in columns C, D or E. Likewise, if they put an x in
column C, then B, D and E must be blank.

How do I allow only one column to have an entry?