Presented by David H. Ringstrom, CPA
 
Event Date: 11/4/26 

Time: 12:00 - 2:00 PM Eastern

In this presentation you'll learn from author and Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, how to use the Data Validation feature to restrict users' inputs within specified cells. Data Validation also enables you to create documentation and optionally enable users to override restrictions. Creating in-cell drop-down lists is one of the best uses of Data Validation, and you'll also see how to craft custom restrictions as well.

David is the author of “Exploring Microsoft Excel's Hidden Treasures: Turbocharge your Excel proficiency with expert tips, automation techniques, and overlooked features”. He demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Excel for Microsoft 365. David draws your attention to any differences in Excel 2021, 2019 or 2016 during the presentation and in his detailed handouts. The handouts include an Excel workbook with most of the examples he uses during his demonstrations.

Excel for Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that receives periodic feature updates. Conversely, perpetually licensed versions have year numbers in their names and do not receive any feature updates.

Who should attend:

Professionals seeking to use Microsoft Excel more effectively.

Topics typically covered:

• Limiting the number of characters a user can enter in a worksheet cell.

• Creating an in-cell list by way of Excel’s Data Validation feature.

• Sorting Data Validation lists automatically with the SORT function in Excel 2021 and Microsoft 365.

• Sorting lists of data dynamically from elsewhere in a spreadsheet with the new SORT function.

• Making it harder for a user to circumvent data validation and easy for you to identify when someone has attempted to do so.

• Restricting users to enter times within a given time window.

• Minimizing ongoing spreadsheet maintenance with Excel’s Table feature.

• Creating self-updating lists data validation lists with dynamic array formulas

• Creating a Data Validation rule that prevents users from entering the same data more than once in a list.

• Removing data validation from a worksheet when needed.

• Restricting users to enter dates within a given range or before/after a given date.

• Unlocking all data validation cells at once within a worksheet as opposed to tracking cells individually.

Learning objectives:

• Identify a valid input for a cell that has a Data Validation rule permitting decimals between 0 and 18%.

• Identify the arguments that correspond to the UNIQUE function.

• Recall the worksheet function that works best when limiting Data Validation entries to Less than Or Equal To today's date.