PlanMaker 2026 · Formatting and validation · Beginner

Restrict Cell Entries with PlanMaker Data Validation

Set PlanMaker 2026 numeric input limits, explain warning versus blocking messages, and understand why pasted values may bypass validation.

Official documentation reviewed; native application verification pending · Updated 10 October 2026 · Editorial standards

If teammates enter inventory quantities, a cell should reject -10 or abc rather than accepting impossible figures. PlanMaker’s input validation can constrain new entries—but it’s not a security barrier and does not automatically clean existing data.

Example: permit quantities from 10 to 20

Select a small empty input region such as B2:B11. The intended valid entries are numeric values 10 through 20 inclusive.

Entry	Expected validation outcome
`10`	Valid lower limit
`15`	Valid
`20`	Valid upper limit
`9`	Invalid
`21`	Invalid

Set the rule

Select the target cells in PlanMaker 2026.
Choose Review → Input validation (the documented ribbon route).
On Settings, select a number type and a between criterion. Enter minimum 10 and maximum 20.
On Input message, explain the accepted range in plain language.
On Error message, choose the blocking Error message type if you need invalid typed values rejected. SoftMaker explicitly distinguishes this from less restrictive warning types.
Test by typing 9, 10, 20, and 21 into the cells, and check whether the application reacts as configured.

A critical limitation: pasted data

SoftMaker’s 2026 documentation states that invalid values can enter through copy-and-paste without the input-validation dialog blocking them. Therefore, a validated worksheet still needs periodic checks after bulk imports and pasted updates.

Validation also does not retroactively guarantee that older cells are valid. Review your existing data separately.

Common problems

Invalid values are accepted: verify the Error message type, not merely a warning.
Validation seems missing: confirm that the new row is part of the rule’s selected range.
Numbers show as text: check imported data types and local decimal separators.

Verification: Boundary conditions and SoftMaker’s copy/paste limitation were checked against the 2026 manual. This procedure has not been run in PlanMaker itself.

Official documentation: Software manual or vendor release notes. This article is part of a staged content batch; confirm the interface and output in the stated software before public deployment.