Microsoft KB Archive/160523

= XL97: Cannot Use Custom Function with Data Validation =

Article ID: 160523

Article Last Modified on 10/10/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q160523



SYMPTOMS
When you use custom criteria with data validation and attempt to type a custom function in the Formula box in the Data Validation dialog box, the following message appears:

A named range you specified cannot be found.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs when the following conditions are met:


 * You click Validation on the Data menu, and then click the Settings tab. -and-


 * You click Custom in the Allow box. -and-


 * You type a custom function in the Formula box.

When you use custom criteria for data validation, Microsoft Excel accepts only a built-in formula or a defined name in the Formula box.



WORKAROUND
To work around this behavior, type the custom function in a cell on the worksheet, and then type a formula that refers to this cell in the Formula box. For example, type the custom function in cell A1, and then type "=A1" (without the quotation marks) in the Formula box in the Data Validation dialog box.



MORE INFORMATION
The Custom data validation criteria type allows you to type a formula, use an expression, or refer to a calculation in another cell to determine a valid entry. When you type a formula, the formula must evaluate to True or False. For additional information about data validation, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

159252 XL97: Description and Examples of Data Validation

