validation rule

[andrewm]

Hi - I have a roster in which in a range a1:a10, a15:a20 I will be
putting names in.
eg. andrew, charles, abdul, tony. Andrew or Charles, and abdul or
tony can only occur once. how can I do a data validation on this.

ie. andrew or charles can occur only once, abdul or tony can occur
only once in the ranges

A1:A10, A15:A20

thanks

andrewm

 

[Guest]

Try this:
1)Select A1:A10 (with A1 as the active cell)
2)Data>Validation
Allow: Custom
Formula: =COUNTIF(A$1:A1,A1)=1

Then, with A15:A20 (A15 active)
Data>Validation
Allow: Custom
Formula: =COUNTIF(A$15:A20,A15)=1

Those will allow any entry in the lists, but no duplicates.

Does that help?

 

[Jerry W. Lewis]

Custom validation with formula
=COUNTIF($A$1:$A$10,A1)+COUNTIF($A$15:$A$20,A1)<2

Jerry

 

[andrewm]

Hi - the validation rule works but
how do I make it specific for the names specified. Other names (eg
John) can be entered in more than once.

andrewm

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

You can create a list with the names, and the number of occurrences
allowed. For example:

John 2
Tony 1

Name this range, e.g. LookupList

Then, in the data validation dialog box, use a formula that refers to
this list. For example:

=COUNTIF($B$1:$B$16,B1)<=VLOOKUP(B1,LookupList,2,0)

 

[andrewm]

Hi Team,

unfortunately in the roster I have 2 ranges
say
the names - andrew can go in a1:a10, charles can go in a15:a20 but not
both
also tony can go in a1:10, abdul can go in a15:20, but not
both

any ideas

andrewm

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

Perhaps, if you clearly outline all the rules, someone will be able to
help you with a data validation formula.

 

[andrewm]

Sorry I'll try to explain what I need - in the roster there are tw
ranges in which a person's name is placed. However in one range thei
full name is placed and in the other range their initials are placed.
there name can only by placed once (either their full name or thei
initials)
(initials are used in one range as the cells are too small for thei
full name)

ie.

range 1. A1:A5 - names thus - joe blogs, tom jones
range 2. c10:c20 - initials thus jb , tj

joe blogs and jb are the same person, tom jones and tj are the sam
person.

thanks

andrew