data_validate.c

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conditional_format1.c >>

Example of adding data validations to a worksheet.

/*
 * Examples of how to add data validation and dropdown lists using the
 * libxlsxwriter library.
 *
 * Data validation is a feature of Excel which allows you to restrict the data
 * that a user enters in a cell and to display help and warning messages. It
 * also allows you to restrict input to values in a dropdown list.
 *
 * Copyright 2014-2026, John McNamara, jmcnamara@cpan.org
 */


#include "xlsxwriter.h"

/*
 * Write some data to the worksheet.
 */
void write_worksheet_data(lxw_worksheet *worksheet, lxw_format *format) {


    worksheet_write_string(worksheet, CELL("A1"),
                           "Some examples of data validation in libxlsxwriter",
                           format);
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet, CELL("B1"), "Enter values in this column", format);
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet, CELL("D1"), "Sample Data", format);

    worksheet_write_string(worksheet, CELL("D3"), "Integers", NULL);
    worksheet_write_number(worksheet, CELL("E3"), 1, NULL);
    worksheet_write_number(worksheet, CELL("F3"), 10, NULL);

    worksheet_write_string(worksheet, CELL("D4"), "List data", NULL);
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet, CELL("E4"), "open", NULL);
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet, CELL("F4"), "high", NULL);
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet, CELL("G4"), "close", NULL);

    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,  CELL("D5"), "Formula", NULL);
    worksheet_write_formula(worksheet, CELL("E5"), "=AND(F5=50,G5=60)", NULL);
    worksheet_write_number(worksheet,  CELL("F5"), 50, NULL);
    worksheet_write_number(worksheet,  CELL("G5"), 60, NULL);

}

/*
 * Create a worksheet with data validations.
 */
int main() {

    lxw_workbook        *workbook  = workbook_new("data_validate.xlsx");
    lxw_worksheet       *worksheet = workbook_add_worksheet(workbook, NULL);
    lxw_data_validation *data_validation =
        (lxw_data_validation *)calloc(1, sizeof(lxw_data_validation));

    /* Add a format to use to highlight the header cells. */
    lxw_format *format = workbook_add_format(workbook);
    format_set_border(format, LXW_BORDER_THIN);
    format_set_fg_color(format, 0xC6EFCE);
    format_set_bold(format);
    format_set_text_wrap(format);
    format_set_align(format, LXW_ALIGN_VERTICAL_CENTER);
    format_set_indent(format, 1);

    /* Write some data for the validations. */
    write_worksheet_data(worksheet, format);

    /* Set up layout of the worksheet. */
    worksheet_set_column(worksheet, 0, 0, 55, NULL);
    worksheet_set_column(worksheet, 1, 1, 15, NULL);
    worksheet_set_column(worksheet, 3, 3, 15, NULL);
    worksheet_set_row(worksheet, 0, 36, NULL);


    /*
     * Example 1. Limiting input to an integer in a fixed range.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A3"),
                           "Enter an integer between 1 and 10",
                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate       = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_INTEGER;
    data_validation->criteria       = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_BETWEEN;
    data_validation->minimum_number = 1;
    data_validation->maximum_number = 10;

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B3"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 2. Limiting input to an integer outside a fixed range.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A5"),
                           "Enter an integer that is not between 1 and 10 (using cell references)",
                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate        = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_INTEGER_FORMULA;
    data_validation->criteria        = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_NOT_BETWEEN;
    data_validation->minimum_formula = "=E3";
    data_validation->maximum_formula = "=F3";

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B5"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 3. Limiting input to an integer greater than a fixed value.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A7"),
                           "Enter an integer greater than 0",
                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate     = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_INTEGER;
    data_validation->criteria     = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_GREATER_THAN;
    data_validation->value_number = 0;

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B7"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 4. Limiting input to an integer less than a fixed value.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A9"),
                           "Enter an integer less than 10",
                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate     = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_INTEGER;
    data_validation->criteria     = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_LESS_THAN;
    data_validation->value_number = 10;

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B9"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 5. Limiting input to a decimal in a fixed range.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A11"),
                           "Enter a decimal between 0.1 and 0.5",
                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate       = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_DECIMAL;
    data_validation->criteria       = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_BETWEEN;
    data_validation->minimum_number = 0.1;
    data_validation->maximum_number = 0.5;

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B11"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 6. Limiting input to a value in a dropdown list.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A13"),
                           "Select a value from a dropdown list",
                           NULL);

    const char *list[] = {"open", "high", "close", NULL};

    data_validation->validate   = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_LIST;
    data_validation->value_list = list;

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B13"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 7. Limiting input to a value in a dropdown list.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A15"),
                           "Select a value from a dropdown list (using a cell range)",
                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate      = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_LIST_FORMULA;
    data_validation->value_formula = "=$E$4:$G$4";

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B15"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 8. Limiting input to a date in a fixed range.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A17"),
                           "Enter a date between 1/1/2024 and 12/12/2024",
                           NULL);

    lxw_datetime datetime1 = {2024,  1,  1, 0, 0, 0};
    lxw_datetime datetime2 = {2024, 12, 12, 0, 0, 0};

    data_validation->validate         = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_DATE;
    data_validation->criteria         = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_BETWEEN;
    data_validation->minimum_datetime = datetime1;
    data_validation->maximum_datetime = datetime2;

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B17"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 9. Limiting input to a time in a fixed range.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A19"),
                           "Enter a time between 6:00 and 12:00",
                           NULL);

    lxw_datetime datetime3 = {0, 0, 0,  6, 0, 0};
    lxw_datetime datetime4 = {0, 0, 0, 12, 0, 0};

    data_validation->validate         = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_TIME;
    data_validation->criteria         = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_BETWEEN;
    data_validation->minimum_datetime = datetime3;
    data_validation->maximum_datetime = datetime4;

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B19"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 10. Limiting input to a string greater than a fixed length.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A21"),
                           "Enter a string longer than 3 characters",
                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate     = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_LENGTH;
    data_validation->criteria     = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_GREATER_THAN;
    data_validation->value_number = 3;

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B21"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 11. Limiting input based on a formula.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A23"),
                           "Enter a value if the following is true \"=AND(F5=50,G5=60)\"",

                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate      = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_CUSTOM_FORMULA;
    data_validation->value_formula = "=AND(F5=50,G5=60)";

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B23"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 12. Displaying and modifying data validation messages.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A25"),
                           "Displays a message when you select the cell",
                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate       = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_INTEGER;
    data_validation->criteria       = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_BETWEEN;
    data_validation->minimum_number = 1;
    data_validation->maximum_number = 100;
    data_validation->input_title    = "Enter an integer:";
    data_validation->input_message  = "between 1 and 100";

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B25"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 13. Displaying and modifying data validation messages.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A27"),
                           "Display a custom error message when integer isn't between 1 and 100",
                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate       = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_INTEGER;
    data_validation->criteria       = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_BETWEEN;
    data_validation->minimum_number = 1;
    data_validation->maximum_number = 100;
    data_validation->input_title    = "Enter an integer:";
    data_validation->input_message  = "between 1 and 100";
    data_validation->error_title    = "Input value is not valid!";
    data_validation->error_message  = "It should be an integer between 1 and 100";

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B27"), data_validation);


    /*
     * Example 14. Displaying and modifying data validation messages.
     */
    worksheet_write_string(worksheet,
                           CELL("A29"),
                           "Display a custom info message when integer isn't between 1 and 100",
                           NULL);

    data_validation->validate       = LXW_VALIDATION_TYPE_INTEGER;
    data_validation->criteria       = LXW_VALIDATION_CRITERIA_BETWEEN;
    data_validation->minimum_number = 1;
    data_validation->maximum_number = 100;
    data_validation->input_title    = "Enter an integer:";
    data_validation->input_message  = "between 1 and 100";
    data_validation->error_title    = "Input value is not valid!";
    data_validation->error_message  = "It should be an integer between 1 and 100";
    data_validation->error_type     = LXW_VALIDATION_ERROR_TYPE_INFORMATION;

    worksheet_data_validation_cell(worksheet, CELL("B29"), data_validation);


    /* Cleanup. */
    free(data_validation);

    return workbook_close(workbook);
}