Data validation rules in Excel - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to create a data validation rule that allows only whole numbers.

Excel

Select the cell, then go to Data > Data Validation > Allow: [1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AList

BText length

CDate

DWhole number

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Selecting 'List' instead of 'Whole number' allows any list values, not numbers.

Choosing 'Text length' restricts text length, not numbers.

Choosing "Whole number" in the Allow dropdown restricts input to whole numbers only.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to set a data validation rule that only allows dates after January 1, 2023.

Excel

In Data Validation, set Allow to Date and set Data to [1] and Start date to 1/1/2023.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Abetween

Bgreater than

Cless than

Dequal to

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing 'between' requires two dates, but only one is given.

Selecting 'less than' allows dates before the start date.

Using "greater than" with the start date 1/1/2023 allows only dates after that date.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the formula used for data validation to allow only values less than 100.

Excel

Use the formula: =[1]<100 in the data validation custom formula box.

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AA1

B100

CSUM(A1)

DIF(A1)

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '100<100' is always false.

Using 'SUM(A1)<100' is unnecessary and may cause errors.

The formula must reference the cell (e.g., A1) to compare its value to 100.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a data validation rule that allows only text entries with length less than 10.

Excel

Set Allow to Text Length and Data to [1] with Maximum length [2].

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aless than

Bgreater than

C10

D5

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Choosing 'greater than' allows longer text, not shorter.

Setting max length to 5 is too restrictive.

Choosing "less than" and setting maximum length to 10 restricts text length to fewer than 10 characters.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a data validation formula that allows only numbers between 1 and 10 inclusive.

Excel

Use the formula: =AND([1]>=1, [2]<=10, ISNUMBER([3]))

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AB2

DA1

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using different cell references causes errors.

Omitting ISNUMBER allows text values.

The formula checks if the cell B2 is a number between 1 and 10 inclusive.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using Data Validation in Excel?

easy

A. To restrict the type of data users can enter in a cell

B. To format cells with colors and fonts

C. To create charts from data

D. To sort data alphabetically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Data Validation purpose

   Data Validation is used to control what data can be entered in cells to avoid errors.

2. Step 2: Compare options with purpose

   Only To restrict the type of data users can enter in a cell describes restricting data entry, which matches Data Validation's purpose.

3. Final Answer:

   To restrict the type of data users can enter in a cell -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Data Validation = Restrict data entry [OK]

Hint: Data Validation controls input type, not formatting or sorting [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Data Validation with cell formatting
• Thinking it creates charts
• Assuming it sorts data

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set a data validation rule that only allows whole numbers between 1 and 10?

easy

A. Allow: List; Source: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

B. Allow: Whole number; Data: between; Minimum: 1; Maximum: 10

C. Allow: Decimal; Data: greater than; Minimum: 1; Maximum: 10

D. Allow: Text length; Data: less than; Minimum: 1; Maximum: 10

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify rule for whole numbers 1 to 10

   The rule must allow whole numbers only, between 1 and 10 inclusive.

2. Step 2: Match options to rule

   Allow: Whole number; Data: between; Minimum: 1; Maximum: 10 correctly sets Allow to Whole number and Data to between with min 1 and max 10.

3. Final Answer:

   Allow: Whole number; Data: between; Minimum: 1; Maximum: 10 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Whole number between 1 and 10 = Allow: Whole number; Data: between; Minimum: 1; Maximum: 10 [OK]

Hint: Whole numbers need 'Allow: Whole number' with min and max [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing Decimal instead of Whole number
• Using List instead of number range
• Confusing Text length with number validation

3. If you apply a data validation rule with the formula =ISNUMBER(A1) on cell A1, what will happen when you enter the text "Hello" in A1?

medium

A. The entry will be rejected with an error message

B. The entry will be accepted without error

C. The cell will automatically convert "Hello" to a number

D. The cell will be cleared automatically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the formula =ISNUMBER(A1)

   This formula returns TRUE if A1 contains a number, FALSE otherwise.

2. Step 2: Entering "Hello" in A1

   "Hello" is text, so ISNUMBER returns FALSE, violating the validation rule.

3. Final Answer:

   The entry will be rejected with an error message -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   ISNUMBER rejects text input = The entry will be rejected with an error message [OK]

Hint: ISNUMBER allows only numbers; text causes rejection [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking text is accepted by ISNUMBER
• Assuming automatic conversion to number
• Believing the cell clears on invalid input

4. You set a data validation rule with the formula =AND(A1>=1, A1<=5) but users can still enter 10 without error. What is the most likely mistake?

medium

A. The formula was entered as text, not as a formula

B. The cell A1 is formatted as Text, not Number

C. The data validation was applied to the wrong cell

D. The formula uses incorrect logical operators

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze why validation fails

   If users enter 10 and no error shows, validation is not working on that cell.

2. Step 2: Check common causes

   Most likely, the validation rule was applied to a different cell, not the one users edit.

3. Final Answer:

   The data validation was applied to the wrong cell -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Wrong cell validation = The data validation was applied to the wrong cell [OK]

Hint: Always confirm validation applies to correct cells [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Entering formula as text disables validation
• Ignoring cell format effects
• Assuming formula logic is wrong without checking range

5. You want to create a data validation rule that allows only dates in the current year. Which custom formula should you use?

hard

A. =AND(ISNUMBER(A1), YEAR(A1)=TODAY())

B. =AND(ISDATE(A1), YEAR(A1)=YEAR(TODAY()))

C. =AND(ISNUMBER(A1), MONTH(A1)=YEAR(TODAY()))

D. =AND(ISNUMBER(A1), YEAR(A1)=YEAR(TODAY()))

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the goal

   Allow only dates in the current year, so check if A1 is a number (dates are numbers) and year matches current year.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   =AND(ISNUMBER(A1), YEAR(A1)=YEAR(TODAY())) uses ISNUMBER (correct for dates), and YEAR(A1)=YEAR(TODAY()) which matches current year.

3. Final Answer:

   =AND(ISNUMBER(A1), YEAR(A1)=YEAR(TODAY())) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Check date number and year match = =AND(ISNUMBER(A1), YEAR(A1)=YEAR(TODAY())) [OK]

Hint: Use ISNUMBER and YEAR to validate dates in current year [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using ISDATE which is not an Excel function
• Comparing MONTH to YEAR
• Comparing YEAR to full date instead of year only