Limit between number of characters in a cell

This tutorial shows how to limit entry of characters between greater or less than number of characters in a cell using Excel or VBA

METHOD 1. Limit between number of characters in a cell using an Excel built-in option

EXCEL

Select a cell > Data tab > Data Tools group > Click on Data Validation > Data Validation > Select Settings tab > Select Text length > Select between > Enter number for minimum and maximum > Click OK

1. Select a cell in which you want to limit entry only between n number of characters.
Note: in this example we are selecting cell B2. 		Select a cell

2. Select the Data tab. Select the Data tab

3. Click on Data Validation in the Data Tools group.
4. Select Data Validation. 		Click on Data Validation and select Data Validation

5. Select the Settings tab.
6. Select Text length in the Allow input box.
7. Select between in the Data input box.
8. Enter the minimum number of characters you want a user to be able to enter in a selected cell.
9. Enter the maximum number of characters you want a user to be able to enter in a selected cell.
10. Click OK
Note: in this example we are applying a condition that will only allow you to enter between five and 10 characters in a selected cell. 		Select Settings tab, select Text length, select between, enter min and max numbers and click OK

METHOD 2. Limit between number of characters in a cell using a formula

EXCEL

Select a cell > Data tab > Data Tools group > Click on Data Validation > Data Validation > Select Settings tab > Select Custom > Enter formula > Click OK

1. Select a cell in which you want to limit entry only between n number of characters.
Note: in this example we are selecting cell B2. 		Select a cell

2. Select the Data tab. Select the Data tab

3. Click on Data Validation in the Data Tools group.
4. Select Data Validation. 		Click on Data Validation and select Data Validation

5. Select the Settings tab.
6. Select Custom in the Allow input box.
7. Enter the formula =AND(LEN(B2)>=5,LEN(B2)<=10) in the Formula input box.
8. Click OK
Note: in this example we are applying a condition that will only allow you to enter between five and 10 characters in a selected cell. 		Select Settings tab, select Custom, enter formula and click OK

METHOD 1. Limit between number of characters in a cell

VBA

Sub Limit_between_number_of_characters()
'declare variables
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim Rng As Range
Set ws = Worksheets("Analysis")
Set Rng = ws.Range("B2")
'apply data validation
With Rng.Validation

.Add Type:=xlValidateTextLength, Operator:=xlBetween, Formula1:="5", Formula2:="10"

End With

End Sub

ADJUSTABLE PARAMETERS
Worksheet Selection: Select the worksheet in which you want to apply a limit to a cell to allow entry between specific number of characters by changing the Analysis worksheet name in the VBA code. You can also change the name of this object variable, by changing the name 'ws' in the VBA code.
Cell: Select the cell in which you want to apply a limit between the number of characters that can be entered into it by changing the cell reference ("B2") in the VBA code.
Minimum Number of Characters: Select the minimum number of characters that can only be entered in a cell by changing the number "5" in the VBA code.
Maximum Number of Characters: Select the maximum number of characters that can only be entered in a cell by changing the number "10" in the VBA code.

Explanation about how to limit between number of characters in a cell

EXPLANATION

EXPLANATION

This tutorial shows how to allow to only enter between n number of characters in a cell using Excel or VBA. Therefore, Excel will not allow you to enter more or less characters if it's not between the minimum and maximum number of characters that you have specified. In this example we are only allowing users to enter between five and 10 characters in a selected cell.
This tutorial provides two Excel methods that can be applied to limit between the number of characters that can be entered in a cell. The first method uses the Excel built-in data validation option (between) and can be completed in 10 steps. The second method is achieved through the use of a formula in the Data Validation dialog box and can be completed in eight steps.
The VBA code in this tutorial uses a Validation function with the xlValidateTextLength validation type to limit between n number of characters that can be entered in a cell.

RELATED TOPICS

Related Topic Description Related Topic and Description
Limit number of characters in a cell How to allow to only enter n number of characters in a cell
Limit maximum number of characters in a cell How to limit users to only be able to enter up to a specific number of characters in a cell
Limit minimum number of characters in a cell How to limit a minimum number of characters that can be entered in a cell