LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1   Report Post  
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.misc
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 46
Default Data Validation Problem Work-Around needed

I am struggling with the following problem.

I have multiple groups of numerical information. Each group has 3
columns - which I will call column A, column B and column C. The user
inputs column A and column B - column C simply adds column A and
column B. If the result of adding column A and column B is the same
as a previous result in that same group, then I want to alert the user
that the data input may be incorrect. It could be correct, but they
should double-check to be certain, as it is probably incorrect.

If the result of adding the two numbers created a duplicate in column
C, the message would state something like "CAUTION - you may have
entered the correct data, but double-check" and then give the option
to accept the data or make the correction, as in conventional data
validation.

I need the solution to be in real time, so I think VBA is out, as I
want the entry of the data to trigger the caution note within a few
seconds, and I do not know a way to trigger a Macro that is column-
specific. Also, once the data involved in a specific entry has been
examined and found to be OK, I do not want to force the user to re-
examine that data again.

Data validation would work perfectly for this problem if it could be
used on cells that are calculated, but of course, it cannot. I know
logically that there is a way to use data validation to do this by
examining the data calculated thus far, and then comparing this to the
entry the user makes in column A and alerting him if the entry he
makes in column B would cause an answer in column C that already
exists. But the programming to do this by brute force would be
extensive, if I could even figure it out and I am not sure, but
perhaps there are even internal limits in Excel that would prevent
adding up to 30 variables to the list to search from. Since I will
have about 90 lists, each with 30 sets of data, on a given
spreadsheet, it seems that brute force, while it might work, may be
hugely memory intensive.

However, since there is a logical answer, there must be a progamming
answer?? I just do not have enough knowledge to figure it out. Can
anyone help me?

Here is a brief example of how brute force might work logically;


A B C

2 7 9 (User enters the 2 and the 7 - Excel calculates 2
+ 7 = 9
3 (Progam now calculates that adding a 6 in
column B would create a duplicate in column C, so validation would
display a message if and only if a 6 was added in column B).
Say the user added a 5 - then we would have

A B C

2 7 9
3 5 8
4 (Program now calculates that adding a 4 in coluimn
B would create a duplicate (8) or adding a 5 in column B would also
create a duplicate in column C (9), so validation would display a
message if a 4 or 5 were added in column B).

I may be able to reduce the lists from 30 sets of data to around 10
sets of data, as that would work for most users - the 30 sets of data,
however, cover every possible need, if that would help.

Is there someone that can guide me in an efficient way to solve this
problem? I thank you very much in advance...

 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules

Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Custom data validation doesn't work well clara Excel Worksheet Functions 1 June 18th 07 03:16 PM
Data validation don't work Mary Excel Discussion (Misc queries) 7 March 16th 07 08:32 PM
Why does data validation not work when pasting data into a cell. rjshelby Excel Discussion (Misc queries) 1 July 31st 06 09:08 PM
Data Validation Error Does Not Work? Alex Mackenzie Excel Worksheet Functions 3 March 6th 06 02:35 PM
Data Validation doesn't work on 1 sheet only lunker55 Excel Discussion (Misc queries) 4 February 25th 05 05:25 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:05 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2025 ExcelBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.
 

About Us

"It's about Microsoft Excel"