1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,055
A tracker stops being useful when one person types In progress

2
00:00:04,055 --> 00:00:05,862
and another types In progres.

3
00:00:05,862 --> 00:00:08,753
Filters and counts treat those as different text.

4
00:00:08,753 --> 00:00:13,089
In this fictional five-task sheet, we will give the Status column

5
00:00:13,089 --> 00:00:16,342
three exact choices, then deliberately type the misspelled version.

6
00:00:16,342 --> 00:00:20,678
The goal is to see it rejected before it reaches a report.

7
00:00:21,278 --> 00:00:25,252
Download and import the practice CSV into a new Google Sheet.

8
00:00:25,252 --> 00:00:29,227
It has a header and five rows, from Confirm sample photos

9
00:00:29,227 --> 00:00:30,672
through Check download link.

10
00:00:30,672 --> 00:00:32,840
Column D holds the current status.

11
00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,815
Notice that the CSV gives us values only; it cannot carry

12
00:00:36,815 --> 00:00:38,260
a Google Sheets dropdown.

13
00:00:38,260 --> 00:00:41,151
We will add the rule inside the Sheet.

14
00:00:41,751 --> 00:00:45,754
Select D two through D six, the five status cells, not

15
00:00:45,754 --> 00:00:47,210
the whole data table.

16
00:00:47,210 --> 00:00:51,213
Google's current help lists Data, Data validation, then Add rule.

17
00:00:51,213 --> 00:00:53,397
You can also use Insert, Dropdown.

18
00:00:53,397 --> 00:00:57,764
We will use the Data validation panel so the rule's range

19
00:00:57,764 --> 00:00:59,948
and invalid-value behavior are visible.

20
00:00:59,948 --> 00:01:01,767
Check the range before saving.

21
00:01:02,367 --> 00:01:06,560
Choose Dropdown as the criterion and enter Queued, In progress, and

22
00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:08,085
Done as separate options.

23
00:01:08,085 --> 00:01:11,134
Keep their spelling consistent with the sample rows.

24
00:01:11,134 --> 00:01:15,708
Google's help also offers Dropdown from a range when the choices

25
00:01:15,708 --> 00:01:19,138
live in cells; here three fixed options are simpler.

26
00:01:19,138 --> 00:01:24,475
The colored chips help scanning, but the validation rule is what controls bad entries.

27
00:01:25,075 --> 00:01:27,617
Before you click Done, inspect Advanced options.

28
00:01:27,617 --> 00:01:31,613
Google documents rejection for text that is not on the list;

29
00:01:31,613 --> 00:01:34,882
Show a warning is the alternative that permits it.

30
00:01:34,882 --> 00:01:38,877
For this tracker, keep Reject input so a typo cannot silently

31
00:01:38,877 --> 00:01:40,330
become a fourth status.

32
00:01:40,330 --> 00:01:44,325
Menu positions and labels can shift between Sheets versions, so follow

33
00:01:44,325 --> 00:01:46,505
the current panel on your screen.

34
00:01:47,105 --> 00:01:51,187
In D two, try typing In progres with one missing s.

35
00:01:51,187 --> 00:01:54,899
Under the documented Reject input setting, Sheets should refuse that

36
00:01:54,899 --> 00:01:57,126
value and leave the cell unchanged.

37
00:01:57,126 --> 00:02:01,209
This is the important test; a colored dropdown that still accepts

38
00:02:01,209 --> 00:02:04,179
stray text would not fix the reporting problem.

39
00:02:04,179 --> 00:02:09,004
If your typo stays, revisit the rule's range and invalid-data setting.

40
00:02:09,604 --> 00:02:12,435
Now pick Done from D two's dropdown.

41
00:02:12,435 --> 00:02:16,328
The five fictional rows should contain three Done, two In progress,

42
00:02:16,328 --> 00:02:18,452
and no Queued or misspelled status.

43
00:02:18,452 --> 00:02:21,991
That count is our answer check after one valid change.

44
00:02:21,991 --> 00:02:25,884
If you add new tasks below row six, extend the validation

45
00:02:25,884 --> 00:02:29,423
rule to those new status cells before using the tracker.

46
00:02:30,023 --> 00:02:34,213
The finished rule lives in Google Sheets, not in the downloaded CSV.

47
00:02:34,213 --> 00:02:38,054
If you export the tracker back to CSV, keep the Sheet

48
00:02:38,054 --> 00:02:39,450
as your editable master.

49
00:02:39,450 --> 00:02:44,339
The guide includes the fictional data, expected counts, and a fix for warning mode.

50
00:02:44,339 --> 00:02:48,528
Our on-screen panels are illustrations, so repeat the typo test and

51
00:02:48,528 --> 00:02:50,972
check the counts in your own Sheet.