How to Use Data Validation to Create a Pop-Up Message in Microsoft Excel

You can add a comment to an Excel cell, however, since there are different ways to display comments, it’s possible they may never be seen. This tip shows you how to use Data Validation in Microsoft Excel to add a pop-up message that gets noticed when it needs to be seen. (You can click the images in this article to enlarge them.)

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Microsoft Excel

1. Open Excel and the workbook in which you need to insert a comment that won’t get missed. The following directions are for Excel 2007 with steps for Excel 2003 in brackets if different.
2. Click in Cell Click in the cell in which you want to display a pop-up message. In this example, cell C2 is where we will insert a message that will display when the user clicks that cell.
3. Data - Validation Click on Data in the toolbar, then the down arrow of Data Validation, and then Data Validation. [Excel 2003: Click Data, and then Data Validation.] The Data Validation dialog box will display.
4. Input Message Tab Click the Input Message tab of the Data Validation dialog box.
5. Input Message On the Input Message tab, leave the box checked for “Show input message when cell is selected." You have the option to enter something into the Title field. What you enter in the Title field will display in bold text in the pop-up message. You then enter your message into the Input Message box. Once you have input your message, click on the OK button to return to your worksheet.
6. Message Displays Because the cell is still selected, you can read the message associated with the cell. Clicking outside the cell will hide the message.
7. This is an easy way to provide guidance to someone using a shared Excel worksheet.