Have you ever encountered the need to ensure the quality and accuracy of data entered in Google Sheets? Well, fear not! With Google Sheets’ Data Validation feature, you can restrict users from entering special characters in selected cell ranges, thus ensuring the integrity of your data.
Purpose of Restricting Special Characters in Google Sheets
In the world of digital life, we often come across special characters – those non-alphanumeric characters that can have multiple uses in functions like Query, Regexmatch, Regexreplace, and Regexextract. However, to prevent any complications, you may want to avoid their usage when they aren’t necessary.
For example, when using the Regexmatch function to match “DRG152 (Rev 2)”, you can escape the open and close parenthesis with a backslash, like this: =regexmatch(D8,"DRG152 (Rev 2)"). However, sometimes you may want to prevent users from entering any special characters altogether to ensure the smooth functioning of these functions.
Setting Up a Data Validation Rule in Google Sheets
To set up a Data Validation rule in Google Sheets, follow these simple steps:
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Select the cell or cell range where you want to apply the Data Validation rule. For instance, click on column label A to select the range A1:A.
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Go to the Data menu, then select Data Validation and click on Add rule.
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Choose Custom formula is as the validation criteria.
Using Regexmatch in Data Validation
Now, let’s dive into the formula that will restrict users from entering special characters. Here is the custom Regexmatch formula that you need to enter in the Data Validation formula field:
=REGEXMATCH(A1&"", "^[a-zA-Z0-9]*$")
Please note that while we want to restrict the entry of all special characters in column A, you only need to specify the topmost cell in the range, which is A1 in this case.
With this formula, users will only be able to enter upper-case and lower-case letters along with numbers. However, if you want to allow space characters as well, modify the formula as follows:
=REGEXMATCH(A1&"", "^[a-zA-Z0-9s]*$")
On the other hand, if you want to restrict only specific special characters, you can use the following formula:
=NOT(REGEXMATCH(A1&"", "[&$%#@!]"))
This formula will only restrict the characters given within the square brackets, such as &, $, %, #, @, and !.
And there you have it! By following these steps, you can ensure that the data entered in Google Sheets remains free from unwanted special characters, maintaining accuracy and improving data integrity.
Remember, data accuracy is crucial, and Google Sheets’ Data Validation feature is here to make your life easier. So go ahead, implement these restrictions, and enjoy hassle-free data management!
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