Dropwdown list from dynamic table - excel

Question

I have a dynamic table containing the following columns:
COUNTRY(String), ACTIVE (Boolean),NAME(String)
An example will be:
COUNTRY(String), ACTIVE (Boolean),NAME(String)
USA, True, Chair
Canada, False, Table
USA, False, Pen
USA, True, Pencil
Canada, True, Pencil
Canada, True, Basket
I want to create a data validation list with the names for every country that are active. The list should be dynamic as the table is constantly being changed.
For the example, the data validation list should check whether the cell containing the country name is Canada or USA and
if USA then: Chair, Pencil / if Canada: Pencil, Basket.

Answer 1

I have resolved this using a three-step organization. The first step is to make a "table" for any growing/shrinking list that will be used for the data validation.
Step 1
List the possible values in columns as a new table. Place the country name at the header row for each column.
A B C D E
1 Country chair USA Canada <----header row
2 USA pencil pencil table
3 Canada table Plato warthog
4 USA warthog
5 Canada tuba
6 USA magic
7 Canada Plato
Select the columns (for instance, D1:E3 in the example) and click Insert > Table.
Check "my data has headers" and click OK.
Select a cell in the newly-formatted column and click Table Tools > Design > Properties > Table Name: ______ and type Countries.
Step 2
Select the column for which you want data validation. Note which cell is active (the cell inside of the selection which you can write to). In the example, it's Cell B2.
Step 3
Under data validation, choose list and type in this equation:
=INDIRECT("Countries[" & A2 & "]")
If the row that's active is row 3, type this in instead:
=INDIRECT("Countries[" & A3 & "]")
This is actually working for me. Try it!