Trying to make an embedded list

Hello all,

I have about 10 sheets that get distributed and then recompiled into a single sheet but there are about 10 columns that require the people to select from the drop down. The issue is that while it is distributed, people insert things and accidentally delete the list data and when it comes back to be recompiled the lists are wrong and my data validation kicks up an error.

Is there a way to get it so that the list is actually in the excel cells and not looking at a cell range? If that isn't possible, anyone have any ideas on how to fix this issue?

When you set up data validation you have the option to enter a comma delimited list.

Although I would personally go with protecting the cells that hold the validation source so that they can't be deleted.