# Using an Encoding Validator

Learn how to create an Encoding Validator to check for specified encoding types and display icons for valid or invalid values in Spread for .NET.

## Content

You can create a validator to determine whether a cell's value matches the specified encoding type.
A validation error occurs if the value is not valid. You can also create an action, such as adding an icon to the cell, that lets the user know the value is invalid.
Use the **EncodingValidator** class to create the validator. Specify a notification type such as [ThreeStateIconNotify](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-win/FarPoint.Win.Spread/FarPoint.Win.Spread.ThreeStateIconNotify.html). Then use the [AddValidators](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-win/FarPoint.Win.Spread/FarPoint.Win.Spread.SheetView.AddValidators.html) method to add the validator to a cell range.
The [ThreeStateIconNotify](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-win/FarPoint.Win.Spread/FarPoint.Win.Spread.ThreeStateIconNotify.html) class allows you to display an icon for a valid value, as shown in the following image.
![Encoding Validator](https://cdn.mescius.io/document-site-files/images/2238e618-a1fb-45a6-9ce5-9a4157bd2931/images/encodevalid.png)

## Using Code

The following example displays a valid icon if you type an ASCII value or an invalid icon if you type a non-ASCII value.

```csharp
//Press Alt and type 0176 to enter a non-ASCII character in cell 1,1
FarPoint.Win.Spread.ThreeStateIconNotify three = new FarPoint.Win.Spread.ThreeStateIconNotify();
FarPoint.Win.Spread.EncodingValidator compare = new FarPoint.Win.Spread.EncodingValidator();
compare.Encoding = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII;
compare.Actions.Add(three);
fpSpread1.Sheets[0].AddValidators(new FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.CellRange(1, 1, 1, 1), compare);
```

```vbnet
'Press Alt and type 0176 to enter a non-ASCII character in cell 1,1
Dim three As New FarPoint.Win.Spread.ThreeStateIconNotify()
Dim compare As New FarPoint.Win.Spread.EncodingValidator()
compare.Encoding = System.Text.Encoding.ASCII
compare.Actions.Add(three)
fpSpread1.Sheets(0).AddValidators(New FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.CellRange(1, 1, 1, 1), compare)
```

## See Also

[Using a Cell Comparison Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellcomparevalidator)
[Using a Character Format Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellcharformatv)
[Using a String Comparison Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellcomparestring)
[Using a Value Comparison Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellcomparevalue)
[Using the Exclude List Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellexcludevalidator)
[Using the Include List Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellincludevalidate)
[Using a Pair Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellpairvalidate)
[Using the Range Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellrangevalidator)
[Using a Regular Expression Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellregexpression)
[Using a Required Field Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellrequiredvalid)
[Using a Required Type Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellrequiretypev)
[Using a Surrogate Character Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-cellsurrogate)
[Using a Text Length Validator](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-interactcell/spwin-cellvalid/spwin-cellvalidation/spwin-celltextlvalid)