Display different text based on data

**bergtho** · 08-17-2009, 06:08 PM

We are working on having the spreadsheet display the correct options, depending on what criteria are chosen. There are three choices in the first criteria and two choices in the second criteria. These choices are presented using data validation so they will always be formatted correctly. Worked on conditional formatting to display results but did not make much progress. Started working on "if" statements to display results, looks like this may not be efficient. Spent a lot of time reading, trying to find a solution.

**DonkeyOte** · 08-18-2009, 03:08 AM

It's not immediately clear what you're looking to do - perhaps you want to check out dependent data validation lists: http://www.contextures.com/xldataval02.html

On an aside whilst I agree with Stormseed that posting an .xls format makes your file / question more accessible (and thus increases likelihood of resolution) please note there is no problem whatsoever with posting in .zip format
(99% of users will have access to a zip utility of some sort, the same is not true of XL2007).

Thanks

**bergtho** · 08-18-2009, 08:20 AM

Good advice on the file format, didn't think of that, updated to more universally readable and non-zipped.

The data validation is going in the right direction, only the items in the last category may be valid for more than one of the previous choices. The data validation works well for structured choices, but I'm not sure how it would work for items that may need to appear in more than one of the previous choices.

An example, pick state, Missouri, list cities, St. Louis, Columbia, Kansas City
and pick state, Kansas, list cities, Topeka, Salina, Kansas City

**bergtho** · 08-18-2009, 08:53 AM

OK, worked through the dependent data validation list example, solution is to place the item that needs to be chosen in both the lists. Will mark solved, thank you for the help.