Data validation problem

[Jamuck]

I am trying to use data validation to check whether when data is entered if it is repeated. As the data is in a different worksheet I have created a dynamic named range using the formula:
=OFFSET(BMs!$A$6,0,0,COUNT(BMs!$A:$A),1)
called BMs and then used a custom function in data validation to check if the input is repeated using formula:
ISNA(VLOOKUP(B12,BMs,1,FALSE))
This gives me the same result whether an input is repeated or not.

any ideas?

[Dave Peterson]

Without looking at your formula at all, is there a reason you just don't use
List in the Data|Validation rules and point at =BMs


Jamuck wrote:
>
> I am trying to use data validation to check whether when data is entered
> if it is repeated. As the data is in a different worksheet I have
> created a dynamic named range using the formula:
> =OFFSET(BMs!$A$6,0,0,COUNT(BMs!$A:$A),1)
> called BMs and then used a custom function in data validation to check
> if the input is repeated using formula:
> ISNA(VLOOKUP(B12,BMs,1,FALSE))
> This gives me the same result whether an input is repeated or not.
>
> any ideas?
>
> --
> Jamuck
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Jamuck's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=30545
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=505299

--

Dave Peterson

[Jamuck]

But won't that then require an input that is on the list and therefore create a duplication which is what I want to avoid?

[Dave Peterson]

Yep. Sorry, I misunderstood the point of the question.

I used this formula:
=ISERROR(MATCH(b12,BMS,0))

(=match() is just about the same as =vlookup() when you're bringing back the
first column.)

This worked so that I couldn't enter any value that was in that list of BMs.

This may be easier to see:
=COUNTIF(BMS,b12)=0

====
Did you actually have an equal sign in your formula?
ISNA(VLOOKUP(B12,BMs,1,FALSE))
(the email post didn't show one, and your formula worked when I added it.)
=ISNA(VLOOKUP(B12,BMs,1,FALSE))




Jamuck wrote:
>
> But won't that then require an input that is on the list and therefore
> create a duplication which is what I want to avoid?
>
> --
> Jamuck
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Jamuck's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=30545
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=505299

--

Dave Peterson

[Jamuck]

It did have an equals sign. I have figured out why it wasn't working now - the figures in the list were linked to the inputted cells so that every time I updated a value it found a repeat - doh! Thanks for your help.