VBA Excel Data Validation of - string

Question

I was looking for some help on creating a sub which does data validation on the values in column C in a worksheet 'Compare' based on possible values listed in a different worksheet 'mapping' in columns C, D, E etc. I wanted to have the possible values use string/pattern characters like # ? * to make the data validation more flexible. There could be anywhere from 1 to 5+ different possible values which varies by key. Validation differences would be spit into an empty column D in worksheet Compare.
An Example with Data is likely most helpful here.
Static sheet 'mapping' . Key is Column A. Possible values in Columns C onwards
A B C D E F G
v1 CDID #### ###? 0
c52 FHAID ER# EP# INVA Z*
c48 PLID *
v24 CUSTID ### ###Q ###P
c22 MATID ???# ??# ?#
q23 LKKID *
Input original sheet 'Compare'. Key is Column B. Column C contains Data to validate
A B C D
c22 MATID RT3FG
v24 CUSTID 456P
v1 CDID 5
q23 LKKID PORTA
Output sheet 'Compare'. Invalid values noted in Column D.
A B C D
c22 MATID RT3FG Error: Invalid value
v24 CUSTID 456P
v1 CDID 5 Error: Invalid Value
q23 LKKID PORTA
Any ideas on how to make this work? Compare worksheet will have all data starting in A1 with no headers. mapping sheet will be quite large with 100+ rows and probably requires a vlookup or similar to find correct row.

Answer 1

Assuming * is anything # is a number and ? is a char I came up with this
Sub CompareToMapping()
Dim mapSheet As Worksheet: Set mapSheet = Sheets("Mapping")
Dim compSheet As Worksheet: Set compSheet = Sheets("Compare")
Dim mcell As Range
Dim ccell As Range
Dim rcell As Range
'Loop throw all the rows in the compare sheet
For Each ccell In compSheet.Range("a1", compSheet.Range("a" & compSheet.Rows.Count).End(xlUp))
'loop through and find a matching row from Mapping sheet
For Each mcell In mapSheet.Range("a1", mapSheet.Range("a" & mapSheet.Rows.Count).End(xlUp))
If mcell = ccell And mcell.Offset(0, 1) = ccell.Offset(0, 1) Then
'loop through valid format strings
For Each rcell In mapSheet.Range(mcell, mapSheet.Cells(mcell.Row, mapSheet.Columns.Count).End(xlToLeft))
ccell.Offset(0, 3) = "Error: Invalid value"
If FormatCorrect(ccell.Offset(0, 2).Text, rcell.Offset(0, 2).Text) Then
'show error in column d
ccell.Offset(0, 3) = ""
Exit For
End If
Next rcell
Exit For
End If
Next mcell
Next ccell
End Sub
Function FormatCorrect(inString As String, inFormat As String) As Boolean
Dim i As Integer: i = 0
Dim curS, curF As String
FormatCorrect = True
' first check for *
If inFormat = "*" Then
FormatCorrect = True
' next check if strings are the same length
ElseIf Len(inString) <> Len(inFormat) Then
FormatCorrect = False
Else
'compare 1 character at a time
For i = 1 To Len(inString)
curS = Mid(inString, i, 1)
curF = Mid(inFormat, i, 1)
If curF = "?" Then ' needs to be a letter
If IsNumeric(curS) Then
FormatCorrect = False
Exit For
End If
ElseIf curF = "#" Then ' needs to be a number
If Not IsNumeric(curS) Then
FormatCorrect = False
Exit For
End If
Else ' needs to be an exact match
If curF <> curS Then
FormatCorrect = False
Exit For
End If
End If
Next i
End If
End Function
Tested and worked for me. Good luck :)