Create exception in validation rule that allows users to skip stages to Closed Lost

 Hi Mark,

You can add an exception for Closed Lost by checking the previous Stage. Since you want users to be able to move directly to Closed Lost only when the Opportunity has already reached at least Still Qualifying Opportunity, you can wrap your existing logic with an exception like this:

AND(
    ISCHANGED(StageName),
    NOT(
        AND(
            ISPICKVAL(StageName, "Closed Lost"),
            CASE(
                PRIORVALUE(StageName),
                "SQLs to be allocated", 1,
                "Still Qualifying Opportunity", 2,
                "Requirements Captured", 3,
                "Proposal Generated", 4,
                "Negotiation", 5,
                "Deal Committed", 6,
                "Closed Won", 7,
                "Closed Lost", 7,
                0
            ) >= 2
        )
    ),
    CASE(
        StageName,
        "SQLs to be allocated", 1,
        "Still Qualifying Opportunity", 2,
        "Requirements Captured", 3,
        "Proposal Generated", 4,
        "Negotiation", 5,
        "Deal Committed", 6,
        "Closed Won", 7,
        "Closed Lost", 7,
        0
    )
    >
    CASE(
        PRIORVALUE(StageName),
        "SQLs to be allocated", 1,
        "Still Qualifying Opportunity", 2,
        "Requirements Captured", 3,
        "Proposal Generated", 4,
        "Negotiation", 5,
        "Deal Committed", 6,
        "Closed Won", 7,
        "Closed Lost", 7,
        0
    ) + 1
)

The important part is the exception:

AND(
    ISPICKVAL(StageName, "Closed Lost"),
    <prior stage value> >= 2
)

So Still Qualifying Opportunity or any later stage can move directly to Closed Lost, while an Opportunity still in SQLs to be allocated cannot.