In the 53rd session of Chandoo.org podcast, let’s talk about data validation.

What is in this session?
In this podcast,
- What is data validation
- How Excel DV compares with database & software DV?
- Types of data validation rules
- List & custom rules explained
- Input & error messages
- Alternatives to data validation
- Enhancing data validation
- Removing data validation rules
- Homework problem for you
- Resources & show notes
Listen to this session
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Click here to download the MP3 file.
Resources for this podcast
Data validation introduction & examples:
- Excel basics: How to add drop down box data validation rules?
- Either-or condition as validation rule
- Making data validations dynamic
- VLOOKUP + Data validation = magic
- Copy data validations using Paste Special, Remove them with Paste Special
Advanced validation examples:
- Advanced data validation techniques (custom rules)
- Unsorted, duplicate column as source
- Mix conditional formatting with DV for awesome results
Data validation in play – case studies:
Additional resources:
Data validation home work – your answer
Did you get the answer for homework? Please post your answers / explanations in the comments section.

















6 Responses to “Make VBA String Comparisons Case In-sensitive [Quick Tip]”
Another way to test if Target.Value equal a string constant without regard to letter casing is to use the StrCmp function...
If StrComp("yes", Target.Value, vbTextCompare) = 0 Then
' Do something
End If
That's a cool way to compare. i just converted my values to strings and used the above code to compare. worked nicely
Thanks!
In case that option just needs to be used for a single comparison, you could use
If InStr(1, "yes", Target.Value, vbTextCompare) Then
'do something
End If
as well.
Nice tip, thanks! I never even thought to think there might be an easier way.
Regarding Chronology of VB in general, the Option Compare pragma appears at the very beginning of VB, way before classes and objects arrive (with VB6 - around 2000).
Today StrComp() and InStr() function offers a more local way to compare, fully object, thus more consistent with object programming (even if VB is still interpreted).
My only question here is : "what if you want to binary compare locally with re-entering functions or concurrency (with events) ?". This will lead to a real nightmare and probably a big nasty mess to debug.
By the way, congrats for you Millions/month visits 🙂
This is nice article.
I used these examples to help my understanding. Even Instr is similar to Find but it can be case sensitive and also case insensitive.
Hope the examples below help.
Public Sub CaseSensitive2()
If InStr(1, "Look in this string", "look", vbBinaryCompare) = 0 Then
MsgBox "woops, no match"
Else
MsgBox "at least one match"
End If
End Sub
Public Sub CaseSensitive()
If InStr("Look in this string", "look") = 0 Then
MsgBox "woops, no match"
Else
MsgBox "at least one match"
End If
End Sub
Public Sub NotCaseSensitive()
'doing alot of case insensitive searching and whatnot, you can put Option Compare Text
If InStr(1, "Look in this string", "look", vbTextCompare) = 0 Then
MsgBox "woops, no match"
Else
MsgBox "at least one match"
End If
End Sub