Here is a quick tip on removing data validation rules.
We all know that data validation is a powerful feature in Excel to control what data is entered. But, sometimes, you may want to remove the rules from a set of cells. How would you do it?
The normal approach is,
- Select the cells with data validation rules
- Go to Data > Data Validation
- Select rule as “any value’
- Press OK
In short, you have to move your mouse alot. It would make sense if we accumulate frequent flier miles on the mouse travel too.
Shouldn’t there be a shorter, quicker way?!? Well, of course, there is a way.
We use Paste Special.
What ?!? Paste Special?!?
That is right. A simple paste special can remove the data validation rules for us quickly. Here is how.
- Select an empty cell without any data validation on it. Press CTRL+C
- Now, go back to the cell(s) from which you want to remove data validation rules
- Press ALT+E S N (In other words, Paste Special > Data Validation)
- Press OK and you are done.
How does it work?
Simple, we took the data validation rules from empty cell in (1) and then pasted them over our original cell(s) using Paste Special option.
What next?
Nothing, Its almost weekend here. We are taking a train to go to a place 400 kilometers away to see a classmate and close friend getting married. Lots of fun and partying awaits. When I am back on Monday, I will surprise you with more Excel awesomeness.
Go ahead and enjoy your weekend…
PS: Paramdeep reminds me that Financial Modeling School enrollments close on March 8th – just 4 more days. Sign-up already.
13 Responses to “Data Validation using an Unsorted column with Duplicate Entries as a Source List”
Pivot Table will involve manual intervention; hence I prefer to use the 'countif remove duplicate trick' along with 'text sorting formula trick; then using the offset with len to name the final range for validation.
if using the pivot table, set the sort to Ascending, so the list in the validation cell comes back alphabetically.
Hui: Brillant neat idea.
Vipul: I am intrigued by what you are saying. Please is it possible to show us how it can be done, because as u said Hui's method requires user intervention.
Thks to PHD and all
K
Table names dont work directly inside Data validation.
You will have to define a name and point it to the table name and then use the name inside validation
Eg MyClient : Refers to :=Table1[Client]
And then in the list validation say = MyClient
Kieranz,
Pls download the sample here http://cid-e98339d969073094.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/data-validation-unsorted-list-example.xls
Off course there are many other ways of doing the same and integrating the formulae in multiple columns into one.
Pls refer to column FGHI in that file. Cell G4 is where my validation is.
Vipul:
Many thks, will study it latter.
Rgds
K
[...] to chandoo for the idea of getting unique list using Pivot tables. What we do is that create a pivot table [...]
@Vipul:
Thanks, that was awesome! 🙂
@Playercharlie Happy to hear that 🙂
Great contribution, Hui. Solved a problem of many years!
Thanks to you, A LOT
Hi Hui,
Greeting
hope you are doing well.
I'm interested to send you a private vba excel file which i need to show detail of pivot in new workbook instead of showing in same workbook as new sheet.
Please contact me on muhammed.ye@gmail.com
Best Regards