XL2000: All Input Messages Appear in the Same Location

In Microsoft Excel, validation input messages attached to cells on a worksheet may appear in exactly the same location on the screen regardless of the location of the selected cell.

This problem occurs if you select a cell and then manually move the validation input message attached to it.

To resolve this problem, do not manually move validation input messages.

If this problem has already occurred, you can reset the positioning behavior of the validation input messages by closing and reopening the workbook that contains them. (If necessary, save the workbook before you close it.)

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

In Microsoft Excel, you can validate data to control what values can be typed in specific cells. The three main functions for data validation are listed as follows:

• You can specify which values may be typed in the cell.
• You can display an input message that specifies which values may be typed in the cell.
• You can display an error message if an invalid value is typed in the cell.

To use data validation, select the cell (or cells) you want to control, and then click Validation on the Data menu.

If you assign an input message to a cell, the message appears next to the cell (similar to a ToolTip) when you select the cell.

Normally, the input message appears just below and to the right of the cell. You can use the pointer to drag the input message to a new location. If you do this, all input messages on that worksheet appear in the same location on the screen until you close and reopen the workbook that contains them.