Dependent Drop Down List Excel - Unique Values

Question

I need to connect three lists of data and put them into drop down lists. So I started by making named ranges, getting all of the unique values and such.

Essentially I followed the instructions on this website: http://www.get-digital-help.com/2010/07/17/create-dependent-drop-down-lists-containing-unique-distinct-values-in-excel/

After following the website, I placed these three drop downs all in the same row, one cell apart. HOWEVER, now I need to have the same three drop down sequence in the next row down. When I try to do this, the second row is dependent on the values of the first one. So if I pick an initial value for the first row that is not the same initial value as the second row it will not work correctly.

Does anyone see a way around this?

Thanks!

Answer 1

As it is, you are creating a unique list for the first drop down box in the first row. The unique list for the second drop down in the first row is dependent upon the value present in your first drop down on the first row. The second list looks for the value you selected in the first drop down of the first row and populates itself with the corresponding values for every instance of the value you picked from the first drop down. This list repopulates and changes every time you select a new value in the first drop down of the first row.

When you are creating the second row, the second drop down is reading from the first row's unique list. There is no unique list based upon the value you have selected in the first drop down of the second row for the second drop down of your second row.

The workaround is to create new lists for the drop downs in the second row.

From your link:

 3.Type "=INDEX(product, MATCH(0, COUNTIF($B$1:B1, product)+(order<>Sheet1!**$D$2**), 0))" 

The bolded part is your problem. When you drag this formula, it ties everything to D2 on Sheet1. You will need to make another list using this formula, but change $D$2 to $D$3 or whatever the cell address of your first drop down is for that row.