Microsoft Excel - Data Validation Techniques

26 Aug 2026
10:00 AM PDT | 01:00 PM EDT
60 Minutes

A date typed in a phone number column, a birthdate with this year in it, a misspelled state abbreviation: Excel Data Validation can stop errors like these before they reach your spreadsheet. This 60-minute Excel data validation training shows you how.

You'll learn what Data Validation is and why it helps, then set rules that require whole numbers, decimals, dates or times, block negative numbers or future dates, and limit entries to a dropdown list, including dependent dropdowns such as category and subcategory.

The session also covers rejecting malformed phone numbers, Social Security numbers and zip codes, building formula-based rules, showing input prompts and friendly error messages, and marking invalid data that's already in a sheet.

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

Spreadsheets are only as good as the data people enter, and cleaning up bad entries wastes time. Data Validation makes files easier to use and keeps the data accurate from the start.

The session suits new Excel users, data analysts, office workers, administrators, managers, business owners, executives, salespeople, trainers, bankers and anyone who builds spreadsheets that other people fill in.

AREA COVERED

  • What Data Validation is and its benefits
  • Requiring whole numbers, decimals, dates or times
  • Rules such as no negative numbers or no future dates
  • Restricting input to values in a dropdown menu
  • Creating a dependent dropdown, such as category and subcategory
  • Rejecting malformed phone numbers, SSNs and zip codes
  • Setting up a rule based on a formula
  • Displaying an input prompt so users know what to enter
  • Showing a friendly message when data is invalid
  • Marking invalid data

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Explain what Data Validation is and how it improves data quality
  • Restrict entries to whole numbers, decimals, dates or times
  • Build dropdown lists and dependent dropdowns
  • Reject badly formatted phone numbers, SSNs and zip codes
  • Create custom validation rules with formulas
  • Add input prompts and error messages, and flag invalid data

WHO WILL BENEFIT?

  • Office Workers
  • Administrators
  • Data Analysts
  • Managers of All Levels
  • Business Owners
  • CEO's
  • CFO's
  • CTO's
  • Salespeople
  • Trainers
  • Bankers
  • Anybody who needs to enhance their spreadsheets to collect more accurate data

Spreadsheets are only as good as the data people enter, and cleaning up bad entries wastes time. Data Validation makes files easier to use and keeps the data accurate from the start.

The session suits new Excel users, data analysts, office workers, administrators, managers, business owners, executives, salespeople, trainers, bankers and anyone who builds spreadsheets that other people fill in.

  • What Data Validation is and its benefits
  • Requiring whole numbers, decimals, dates or times
  • Rules such as no negative numbers or no future dates
  • Restricting input to values in a dropdown menu
  • Creating a dependent dropdown, such as category and subcategory
  • Rejecting malformed phone numbers, SSNs and zip codes
  • Setting up a rule based on a formula
  • Displaying an input prompt so users know what to enter
  • Showing a friendly message when data is invalid
  • Marking invalid data
  • Explain what Data Validation is and how it improves data quality
  • Restrict entries to whole numbers, decimals, dates or times
  • Build dropdown lists and dependent dropdowns
  • Reject badly formatted phone numbers, SSNs and zip codes
  • Create custom validation rules with formulas
  • Add input prompts and error messages, and flag invalid data
  • Office Workers
  • Administrators
  • Data Analysts
  • Managers of All Levels
  • Business Owners
  • CEO's
  • CFO's
  • CTO's
  • Salespeople
  • Trainers
  • Bankers
  • Anybody who needs to enhance their spreadsheets to collect more accurate data
Currency:
Webinar Option
Live + Recorded Session
Live + Transcript
Live + USB
Transcript (PDF Transcript of the Training)
Downloadable Recorded Session
USB
Group Session Participants + Recorded

Live Session with unlimited participants. Invite any number of attendees to join.

Speaker Profile

ins_img Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler started teaching Excel and other Microsoft Office (now Microsoft 365) applications in Silicon Valley in 1996. In 2010 he started a computer training and consulting company named TechMentors. He has had the pleasure of teaching and consulting with many small and large companies including Stanford Medical Center, Visa, Seagate, and the City of San Jose.Tom received his Bachelors of Science in Finance and Accounting from Brigham Young University. He also received a MBA with a concentration on Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management from Western Governors University.Tom and his wife, Madeline, are very family oriented. They have …

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