Handling Validation for Proper Latitude

Iswar has two cells in which users enter degrees and minutes, which represent latitude. The values can necessarily vary from 0 degrees and 0 minutes to 90 degrees and 0 minutes. (Obviously Iswar is dealing with northern-hemisphere latitudes.) He wants to use data validation to check and limit what can be entered in the two cells. For the degrees Iswar can validate that the value is between 0 and 90. The problem is with the minutes cell, which can vary from 0 to 59 unless the degrees cell is 90, then the only acceptable value is 0 minutes. Iswar wonders how he can create the validation for the minutes cell to take this into account.

Assuming that you enter degrees into cell A1, you could set up validation for the degrees in this manner:

1. Select cell A1.
2. Display the Data tab of the ribbon.
3. In the Data Tools group click the Data Validation tool. Excel displays the Data Validation dialog box.
4. The Settings tab should be displayed. (See Figure 1.)



Figure 1. The Settings tab of the Data Validation dialog box.

5. Using the Allow drop-down list, choose Whole Number.
6. In the Minimum and Maximum boxes enter 0 and 90, respectively.
7. Adjust the settings on the other tabs of the dialog box, as desired.
8. Click OK.

Now, assuming that you enter minutes into cell B1, you could set up validation for the minutes in this manner:

1. Select cell B1.
2. Display the Data tab of the ribbon.
3. In the Data Tools group click the Data Validation tool. Excel displays the Data Validation dialog box.
4. The Settings tab should be displayed.
5. Using the Allow drop-down list, choose Whole Number.
6. In the Minimum box enter 0.
7. In the Maximum box enter =IF(A1=90,0,59).
8. Adjust the settings on the other tabs of the dialog box, as desired.
9. Click OK.

The formula used for the Maximum value (step 7) sets a maximum for the cell based on whatever is entered into cell A1 (the degrees).

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (8235) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Handling Validation for Proper Latitude.