Question

I know excel has the data validation feature but is there a way to automatically apply the changes for the user instead of prompting them that there is an issue?

For example, we have a general spreadsheet template for our internal system to add items. In the first column, for Item No, there can’t be any illegal characters. So if the user enters AN-XR10LP/1 in A1 and then clicks on the next cell, I would want the validation to correct the A1 value to be ANXR10LP1 without the user doing anything.

Any ideas on how I can start with this?

Answer 1

I think you can only accomplish this with VBA. Try the code below. It may need to be tweaked if you have Data Validation on the cells.

Place this module in the Worksheet Object where you want your data validated.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)

If Target.Column = 1 And Target.Rows.Count = 1 Then '-> make sure row count is 1 and target is in column A, can further refine if needed

    Dim strValue As String

    strValue = CleanString(Target.Value)

    Application.EnableEvents = False
    Target = strValue
    Application.EnableEvents = True

End If

End Sub

Function CleanString(str As String) As String

CleanString = Replace(str, "-", "")
CleanString = Replace(CleanString, "/", "")
'...
'keep adding replacements as needed


End Function