How To Create Error Message Alert In Excel

Summary: This post aims to explain how to create Microsoft Excel data validation custom messages to help people enter worksheet data correctly and show special error messages to help them fix invalid entries without being frustrated.

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It is no secret that almost all certified public accountants use Excel on a daily basis. Excel is an invaluable tool that allows accounting professionals to work with complex data sets and communicate vast amounts of information to clients and co-workers.

But, you can’t deny that working with huge and complex data with multiple sheets can lead to errors and a significant time suck. However, Excel allows users to define custom input or error messages to prevent data entry errors. 

Imagine that you're responsible for creating, maintaining, and assigning usernames and passwords for your company's employees. You can easily accomplish your task using an excel spreadsheet. After that, you transfer the data to your colleague. At this point, someone else needs to handle this.

So, how will he/she manage the data? The best way to ensure the job is done right is to create input and error messages using data validation.  

What are Data Validation Messages?

Data validation allows you to display instructions to your spreadsheet users.

Types of Validation messages:

1. When a cell is selected, an Input Message is displayed

2. An Error Alert can be displayed if invalid data is entered in a cell

How To Create an Input Message?

When the cell is selected, an Input Message can be displayed to help people know what data should be entered.

Here's how to display a short message when a cell is selected.

1. Validate the data in the selected cells

2. Select the Data tab from the Ribbon

3. Click Data Validation under the Data Tools group

4. Pick the data validation options from the Settings tab

5. Choose the Input Message tab, then check the box next to Show input message when the cell is selected.

6. In the Title box, type the headline of your message. At the top, the heading text will appear in bold.

7. In the Input message box, type a short message. You can create line breaks if you want them by pressing the Enter key.

8. For help adding an error alert, click OK or follow the steps below.

9. You will now see the Input Message when you click the cell.

Point To Note: The limit of message text is 255-character 

What Are The Data Validation Error Alerts?

The Error Alert feature of the cell is automatically turned on when you add data validation.

People cannot enter invalid data in the data validation cell by default because of the error alert settings.

Excel displays its default error message if you try to enter an invalid value into a cell with those default settings. It includes the following:

• Title: Microsoft Excel

• Icon: Red circle with white X

• Text: This value doesn't match the data validation restrictions defined for this cell

• Buttons: Cancel, Retry, Close, Help

In the data validation error message, the following will happen when you click any of the command buttons or on the Close button.

1. Retry: Click on the Retry button to close the message box. You may type a different value in the validation cell contents by selecting them and typing it in.

2. Cancel/ Close: Click on the Cancel button to remove Data validation cell contents

3. Help: Click Help button to stay the message box open. The web browser will automatically open the Data Validation page on the Microsoft website.

You won't be able to enter the invalid data with that default message, but it doesn't disclose why the data is invalid. Refer to the sections below for more information about changing the error alert message and settings.

Show Error Alert Setting

If data validation is enabled by default, you'll receive an alert when you enter invalid data. These steps explain how to disable this setting.

1. You will need to select the cells you would like to apply data validation.

2. Select Data Validation from the Ribbon's Data tab

3. Select the Error Alert tab within the Data Validation dialog box

In Excel, you can easily create error messages using this method.

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