Restrict or Force Text Entry to All Caps, All Lower Cases, or Proper Case in Google Sheets

Are you tired of inconsistent text formatting in your Google Sheets? Do you want to ensure that all text entries are in a specific case? Look no further! In this article, we will guide you on how to control text input in Google Sheets using data validation. Whether you want to enforce all caps, all lowercase, or proper case, we’ve got you covered!

How to Restrict or Make All Text Entry/Input in Capital Letters or Uppercase

If you want to enforce all text entries to be in capital letters or uppercase, follow these simple steps:

1. Select the range or column where you want to enforce text entry in all caps.
2. Go to the Data menu and choose Data Validation.
3. Click on the Add Rule button.
4. Under criteria, select Custom formula is.
5. Enter the following formula: =EXACT(UPPER(A1), A1).
6. Under Advanced Options, select either Reject the input or Show a warning.

By applying this formula, Google Sheets will compare the original text with the same text converted to uppercase. If the text is already in uppercase, the formula will return TRUE; otherwise, it will return FALSE. This rule restricts or makes all text entries in capital letters.

How to Force All Text Input to Small Case | Lower Case | Small Letters

If you want to force all text input to be in lowercase or small letters, use the following formula:

=EXACT(LOWER(A1), A1)

Replace A1 with the first cell in the range where you want to enforce lowercase text input. This formula will compare the original text with the same text converted to lowercase. Any input that violates this rule will be rejected or warned based on your preference.

How to Restrict or Enforce Proper Case for All Text Entries

For a consistent and professional look, you might want to enforce proper case for all text entries. Follow these steps:

1. Use the formula =EXACT(PROPER(A1), A1).
2. Replace both instances of A1 with the cell reference of the first cell in your desired range.

This formula will compare the original text with the same text converted to proper case. Any text entry that doesn’t follow this rule will be rejected or warned, depending on your selection in the Data Validation dialog box.

Additional Tip: Exclude Specific Text from the Rule

What if you want to allow certain exceptions, such as specific abbreviations, while still enforcing a specific case for the rest of the text? Here’s an example formula to achieve that:

=OR(EXACT(LOWER(A1), A1), REGEXMATCH(A1, "^TMI$|^NVM$|^FYI$|^ASAP$"))

The above rule restricts text entries to lowercase letters, except for the abbreviations TMI, NVM, FYI, and ASAP, which can be entered in any case. By using the REGEXMATCH function in combination with an OR logical test, you can specify exceptions while still maintaining consistent text formatting.

Now you have the power to control text input in Google Sheets! Say goodbye to inconsistent formatting and hello to uniformity. For more Google Sheets tips, tricks, and tutorials, visit Crawlan.com.