You can create a validator that has a list of valid values.

A validation error occurs if the value is not valid. You can also create an action, such as adding a backcolor to the cell, that lets the user know the value is invalid.

Use the IncludeListValidator class to create the validator. Specify a notification type such as CellStyleNotify. Then use the AddValidators method to add the validator to a cell range.

The following image displays an invalid backcolor.

Using Code

The following example displays an invalid backcolor if you type an item from the list.

//Type an item in cell 1,1 that is not in the list to see the error notification
FarPoint.Win.Spread.CellStyleNotify cnotify = new FarPoint.Win.Spread.CellStyleNotify();
cnotify.InvalidCellStyle.BackColor = Color.Yellow;
FarPoint.Win.Spread.IncludeListValidator ilist = new FarPoint.Win.Spread.IncludeListValidator();
ilist.Candidates = new string[] { "Bird", "Deer", "Squirrel", "Lizard" };          
ilist.Actions.Add(cnotify);
fpSpread1.Sheets[0].AddValidators(new FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.CellRange(1, 1, 1, 1), ilist);

'Type an item in cell 1,1 that is not in the list to see the error notification
Dim cnotify As New FarPoint.Win.Spread.CellStyleNotify()
cnotify.InvalidCellStyle.BackColor = Color.Yellow
Dim IList As New FarPoint.Win.Spread.IncludeListValidator()
IList.Candidates = New String() {"Bird", "Deer", "Squirrel", "Lizard"}
IList.Actions.Add(cnotify)
fpSpread1.Sheets(0).AddValidators(New FarPoint.Win.Spread.Model.CellRange(1, 1, 1, 1), IList)