Excel actually can do data validation. You can allow input only on certain cells, and allow the input to take values only in a range. Alternatively, you could do the validation in VBA.
One good way to get people to enter data the right way is to use conditional formatting to make it change a color when they enter the word that you want. It's very satisfying to turn a line from yellow to green (in progress to complete for instance) and gives feedback as to whether the form is being used correctly.
Which is not to say that a web form isn't a better way to do it.
Thanks for posting my article here. I had no idea it would generate interest =]
Yes, Excel can do all sorts of data validation, etc. What wasn't clear in the article (I didn't know I was writing for public consumption) is that the projects in question are ongoing surveys reaching (potentially) literally tens of thousands of people.
But GavinB, I agree with you; and would like a one-second fade for data validations on the web page, also.
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[ 2.7 ms ] story [ 18.1 ms ] threadWhich is not to say that a web form isn't a better way to do it.
Yes, Excel can do all sorts of data validation, etc. What wasn't clear in the article (I didn't know I was writing for public consumption) is that the projects in question are ongoing surveys reaching (potentially) literally tens of thousands of people.
But GavinB, I agree with you; and would like a one-second fade for data validations on the web page, also.