Nested lists (INDIRECT FUNCTION)

Hello,

I am trying to learn how to create a list, that's nested in another list? I think that's what it might be called.
Basically I have a workbook with 2 sheets (form and names) - see attached files

In the names sheet...I have categories for types of animals (dogs, cats, rabbits) and then I have a list of names for each type of animal.

In the Forms sheet, I have a column that uses a list validation to choose the type of animal from the drop down menu and that is working fine.

What I want to achieve is, to the right of that cell, when I choose a type (category) of an animal, that only those names for that type show up in a drop down menu.

So, if someone chooses "dogs" from the cell on the left, I want only the dogs names to populate on the right.

I found something online using the INDIRECT function, but I can't seem to get it to work.

Right now each type of animals names uses a name range to identify that group.

Any help is greatly appreciate
thanks
babs

Try

=INDIRECT(A3)

Hello,

That was actually the first thing I tried, based on the tutorial, and that gave me ethel (the second cats name in the cats name list?).

What I want is a drop down list of all the cats names, so I could pick from the list.
That is where I am really stuck ;-)

thanks!!!
babs

Then you must have defined the range Cats wrongly. It works fine.

Hi Bob,

The thing is, I made a range for the cats names, called cats in the names sheet, but as of now, I don't know where in a formula to put that? I am missing the dropdown menu (option) in the cell to the right of my cats choice as I am not sure what to put there. Since I don't know if I will be picking dogs, cats or rabbits, how does the cell to the right of that choice know where to pick up the names from each group?
Hope that makes more sense...thanks for all your help!!!
babs

Hi
I just realized I could attach my excel file...maybe that will help?
thanks
babs

like this... please find the attached..

Hi Deepak!

That did it!!
Thank you!

Although still a bit perplexed to know how it knows what list to choose from in the names sheet..since I really don't have a connection there?
But, I will try to figure it out ;-)

Thanks!!!
babs