Data Menu – Data Validation in Google Sheets

Data Menu – Data Validation in Google Sheets

Data validation is a feature in Google Sheets that allows you to control the type of data that can be entered into a cell or range of cells. Data validation can be used to enforce certain rules, such as ensuring that only numbers within a certain range are entered into a cell, or that a date is entered in a specific format.

Here's how to use data validation in Google Sheets:

1. Select the cell or range of cells that you want to apply data validation to.
2. Go to "Data" > "Data Validation".
3. In the "Data Validation" dialog box, select the type of data validation that you want to apply. For example, you could choose "Whole number" to validate that only whole numbers are entered into the cell or range.
4. Configure the validation criteria. For example, you could specify a minimum and maximum value for numbers, or a specific date format for dates.
5. Click "Save" to apply the data validation.
6. When a user tries to enter data into a cell that violates the data validation rules, an error message will appear and the data will not be accepted.

By using data validation, you can ensure that the data entered into your Google Sheets is consistent and meets specific rules, which can help to reduce errors and improve the accuracy of your data.