check for previous entry
 

I use column "D" for entering invoice numbers.How can I have Excel lock at
all previous enteries to see if I am duplicating an entry on any other row of
column "D"

check for previous entry
 

You could apply data validation on that col D

Select col D
Click Data Validation
Allow: Custom
Formula: =COUNTIF(D:D,D1)<2
Click OK

Test it out ..
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
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xdemechanik
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"MichaelCasper" wrote:
I use column "D" for entering invoice numbers.How can I have Excel lock at
all previous enteries to see if I am duplicating an entry on any other row of
column "D"

check for previous entry
 

MichaelCasper wrote:
I use column "D" for entering invoice numbers.How can I have Excel lock at
all previous enteries to see if I am duplicating an entry on any other row of
column "D"

Hello,

Max gave a good solution. Something else you could try is conditional
formatting:

Place the cursor in D1 and click the D column header to select the
entire column.

Choose Format | Conditional Formatting and fill in the options as follows:

Condition1:
change to Formula is
=COUNTIF(D:D,D1)1

Click the Format button and choose something eye-catching, e.g., yellow
shading with red font.