Adding Multiple Name Lists to Conditional Dropdown in Excel - excel

Question

I'm creating a spreadsheet that has dropdowns that have content based on more than one cell, and add different things according to those conditions. I've been searching for the past hour trying to find something online (here, Google, etc), and either I haven't been searching for the right thing, or no one's thought to try it before, but either way, here we go:
The point is that, in Data Validation, the references for named groups seem to be only singular, but I want to be able to add multiple named groups to a single drop-down list depending on what's available. For instance, one drop down box (D1) can have values based on two cells (A1, A2), and both are dropdowns themselves. If A1 and A2 both say that something should show in D1's list, I want both to show up (in an order specified by the order in which I check the cells). Is this even possible with Excel, and if so, how the heck do I do it?

Answer 1

Wow man this was really a challenge I enjoyed this one quite a bit! Sorry the first answer was not what you needed but this should do!
So first I set up my sheet as follows:
I then added the True and False conditions for Choice 1 & 2 using data validation
I then input formulas in Column H to create a new list based on the choices
=IF($A$2=TRUE,E2,"")
=IF($A$2=TRUE,E3,"")
=IF($A$2=TRUE,E4,"")
=IF($A$2=TRUE,E5,"")
=IF($A$2=TRUE,E6,"")
=IF($B$2=TRUE,F2,"")
=IF($B$2=TRUE,F3,"")
=IF($B$2=TRUE,F4,"")
=IF($B$2=TRUE,F5,"")
=IF($B$2=TRUE,F6,"")
So for the first 5 formulas if the choice is A2 is True then it will display the appropriate item from List 1 into the Dynamic List.
For the last 5 formulas if the choice is B2 is True then it will display the appropriate item from List 2 into the Dynamic List
For Example:
If A2 = True & B2 = False
If A2 = False & B2 = True
At this point I realized that the spaces in the dynamic list would be a problem so I had to create an ARRAY to remove the spaces. There are tons of examples online to do this but this was the simplest formula. (I can't explain ARRAY formulas I use them every once in awhile but don't fully understand them I am sorry about that)
In I2 I placed the following ARRAY formula (The cell above I2 must remain blank)
=INDEX($H$2:$H$11, MATCH(0, IF(ISBLANK($H$2:$H$11), 1, COUNTIF(I1:$I$1, $H$2:$H$11)), 0))
You then must press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER after inputting the formula to make it an array formula
Then drag the formula down to I11 using autofill
Then in C2 I created a dynamic drop down using data validation and an OFFSET Formula to refer to the valid text items contained in the indexed list (The OFFSET formula is is explained here http://www.ozgrid.com/Excel/DynamicRanges.htm)
The formula is:
=OFFSET($I$2,0,0,MATCH("*",$I$2:$I$11,-1),1)
The OFFSET Formula is used in the source field of the Data Validation for C2
Now your list in C2 is dynamic based on the Choices in A2 and B2
For example:
A2 and B2 = False
A2 = True and B2 = False
A2 = True and B2 = True
A2 = False and B2 = True
There might be another way to do this with VBA (I am not that great with it) as well but for now this should do! Hope this solves your issue!

Answer 2

It is possible I was able to do this:
I made list of items in column D and E in this instance:
Column D contains the letters A,B,C,D
Column E contains E,G,H,I
The values can be what ever you need it to be.
I then made a drop down list in cell B1 using Data Validation -> List referencing the list in column D
I then made a drop down list in cell C1 using Data Validation -> List referencing the list in column E
I Then made a drop down list in cell A1 using Data Validation -> List referencing the drop down lists that are in B1 and C1
This dynamically changes drop down list in A1 based on the selected values in B1 and C1
In the image below I selected B and H which changed the list in cell A1 to have the options B and H.