Microsoft Office

Part IV
Using Advanced Excel Features
Follow these steps:
1. Select the range B2:B10 and ensure that cell B2 is the active cell.
2. Choose Data ➪ Data Tools ➪ Data Validation. The Data Validation dialog box appears.
3. Click the Settings tab and select Custom from the Allow drop-down list.
4. Enter the following formula in the Formula box, as shown in Figure 25.5:
=ISODD(B2)
This formula uses Excel’s ISODD function, which returns True if its numeric argument is an odd
number. Notice that the formula refers to the active cell, which is cell B2.
5. Click the Error Alert tab and choose Stop for the Style and type An odd number is required
here as the Error Message.
6. Click OK to close the Data Validation dialog box.
Notice that the formula entered contains a reference to the upper-left cell in the selected range. This Data
Validation formula was applied to a range of cells, so you might expect that each cell would contain the
same Data Validation formula. Because you entered a relative cell reference as the argument for the ISODD
function, Excel adjusts the Data Validation formula for the other cells in the B2:B10 range. To demonstrate
that the reference is relative, select cell B5 and examine its Data Validation formula. You’ll see that the formula
for this cell is
=ISODD(B5)
FIGURE 25.5
Entering a Data Validation formula.
Generally, when entering a Data Validation formula for a range of cells, you use a reference to the active cell,
which is normally the upper-left cell in the selected range. An exception is when you need to refer to a specific
cell. For example, suppose that you select range A1:B10, and you want your Data Validation to allow
only values that are greater than C1. You would use this Data Validation formula:
=A1>$C$1
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