Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Specifying a Data Validation Error Message.
If someone tries to enter a value into a cell that has a data validation rule defined, and that value is outside the bounds of the validation rule you have specified, they will see an error message. Excel allows you to modify the default error message to provide meaningful information to the user. When used in conjunction with the input message, data validation becomes a very powerful tool in developing worksheets to be used by others.
Figure 1. The Error Alert tab of the Data Validation dialog box.
When the user enters an incorrect value and presses Enter or tries to move to another cell, a dialog box appears with your message.
You should realize that what the user can do once the error message dialog box is displayed is dependent on which error style you chose in step 6. For instance, if you choose the Stop style, the user can only retry their entry or cancel it. (In other words, you are forcing them to put in the right value.) If you choose the Warning style, then they are notified of their error, but they can still continue with the wrong value in the cell. Finally, the Information style is the gentlest reminder of all, and the user can still go on and accept the incorrect entry.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12203) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Specifying a Data Validation Error Message.
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Discover MoreWant to control what users put into a cell? It's easy to do using a feature called data validation, as described in this tip.
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2017-05-05 05:02:57
Michael Pegg
Hi
Thanks for info but...
Can you delete the help button?
Many thanks Michael
2016-05-04 07:12:33
Philip
I find the "Input Message" also especially useful when designing a workbook for others who need instructions on what to put where ... pop-up help as it were ...
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
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