How do you do dynamic / dependent drop downs in Google Sheets? - validation

Question

How do you get a sub-category column to populate a drop down based on the value selected in the main category drop down in google sheets?
I googled around and couldn't find any good solutions, therefore I wanted to share my own. Please see my answer below.

Answer 1

You can start with a google sheet set up with a main page and drop down source page like shown below.
You can set up the first column drop down through the normal Data > Validations menu prompts.
Main Page
Drop Down Source Page
After that, you need to set up a script with the name onEdit. (If you don't use that name, the getActiveRange() will do nothing but return cell A1)
And use the code provided here:
function onEdit() {
var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
var myRange = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveRange();
var dvSheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getSheetByName("Categories");
var option = new Array();
var startCol = 0;
if(sheet.getName() == "Front Page" && myRange.getColumn() == 1 && myRange.getRow() > 1){
if(myRange.getValue() == "Category 1"){
startCol = 1;
} else if(myRange.getValue() == "Category 2"){
startCol = 2;
} else if(myRange.getValue() == "Category 3"){
startCol = 3;
} else if(myRange.getValue() == "Category 4"){
startCol = 4;
} else {
startCol = 10
}
if(startCol > 0 && startCol < 10){
option = dvSheet.getSheetValues(3,startCol,10,1);
var dv = SpreadsheetApp.newDataValidation();
dv.setAllowInvalid(false);
//dv.setHelpText("Some help text here");
dv.requireValueInList(option, true);
sheet.getRange(myRange.getRow(),myRange.getColumn() + 1).setDataValidation(dv.build());
}
if(startCol == 10){
sheet.getRange(myRange.getRow(),myRange.getColumn() + 1).clearDataValidations();
}
}
}
After that, set up a trigger in the script editor screen by going to Edit > Current Project Triggers. This will bring up a window to have you select various drop downs to eventually end up at this:
You should be good to go after that!

Answer 2

Caution! The scripts have a limit: it handles up to 500 values in a single drop-down list.
Multi-line, multi-Level, multi-List, multi-Edit-Line Dependent Drop-Down Lists in Google Sheets. Script
More Info
Article
Video
Last version of the script on GitHub
This solution is not perfect, but it gives some benefits:
Let you make multiple dropdown lists
Gives more control
Source Data is placed on the only sheet, so it's simple to edit
First of all, here's working example, so you can test it before going further.
Installation:
Prepare Data
Make the first list as usual: Data > Validation
Add Script, set some variables
Done!
Prepare Data
Data looks like a single table with all possible variants inside it. It must be located on a separate sheet, so it can be used by the script. Look at this example:
Here we have four levels, each value repeats. Note that 2 columns on the right of data are reserved, so don't type/paste there any data.
First simple Data Validation (DV)
Prepare a list of unique values. In our example, it is a list of Planets. Find free space on sheet with data, and paste formula: =unique(A:A)
On your mainsheet select first column, where DV will start. Go to Data > Validation and select range with a unique list.
Script
Paste this code into script editor:
function onEdit(event)
{
// Change Settings:
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
var TargetSheet = 'Main'; // name of sheet with data validation
var LogSheet = 'Data1'; // name of sheet with data
var NumOfLevels = 4; // number of levels of data validation
var lcol = 2; // number of column where validation starts; A = 1, B = 2, etc.
var lrow = 2; // number of row where validation starts
var offsets = [1,1,1,2]; // offsets for levels
// ^ means offset column #4 on one position right.
// =====================================================================================
SmartDataValidation(event, TargetSheet, LogSheet, NumOfLevels, lcol, lrow, offsets);
// Change Settings:
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
var TargetSheet = 'Main'; // name of sheet with data validation
var LogSheet = 'Data2'; // name of sheet with data
var NumOfLevels = 7; // number of levels of data validation
var lcol = 9; // number of column where validation starts; A = 1, B = 2, etc.
var lrow = 2; // number of row where validation starts
var offsets = [1,1,1,1,1,1,1]; // offsets for levels
// =====================================================================================
SmartDataValidation(event, TargetSheet, LogSheet, NumOfLevels, lcol, lrow, offsets);
}
function SmartDataValidation(event, TargetSheet, LogSheet, NumOfLevels, lcol, lrow, offsets)
{
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// The event handler, adds data validation for the input parameters
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
var FormulaSplitter = ';'; // depends on regional setting, ';' or ',' works for US
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// =================================== key variables =================================
//
// ss sheet we change (TargetSheet)
// br range to change
// scol number of column to edit
// srow number of row to edit
// CurrentLevel level of drop-down, which we change
// HeadLevel main level
// r current cell, which was changed by user
// X number of levels could be checked on the right
//
// ls Data sheet (LogSheet)
//
// ======================================================================================
// Checks
var ts = event.source.getActiveSheet();
var sname = ts.getName();
if (sname !== TargetSheet) { return -1; } // not main sheet
// Test if range fits
var br = event.range;
var scol = br.getColumn(); // the column number in which the change is made
var srow = br.getRow() // line number in which the change is made
var ColNum = br.getWidth();
if ((scol + ColNum - 1) < lcol) { return -2; } // columns...
if (srow < lrow) { return -3; } // rows
// Test range is in levels
var columnsLevels = getColumnsOffset_(offsets, lcol); // Columns for all levels
var CurrentLevel = getCurrentLevel_(ColNum, br, scol, columnsLevels);
if(CurrentLevel === 1) { return -4; } // out of data validations
if(CurrentLevel > NumOfLevels) { return -5; } // last level
/*
ts - sheet with validation, sname = name of sheet
NumOfLevels = 4
offsets = [1,1,1,2] - last offset is 2 because need to skip 1 column
columnsLevels = [4,5,6,8] - Columns of validation
Columns 7 is skipped
|
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
1 | | | | | | | x | | |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
2 | | | | v | V | ? | x | ? | | lrow = 2 - number of row where validation starts
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
3 | | | | | | | x | | |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
4 | | | | | | | x | | |
|----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| | | | |
| | | | Currentlevel = 3 - the number of level to change
| | | |
| | | br - cell, user changes: scol - column, srow - row,
| | ColNum = 1 - width
|__|________ _.....____|
| v
| Drop-down lists
|
| lcol = 4 - number of column where validation starts
*/
// Constants
var ReplaceCommas = getDecimalMarkIsCommaLocals(); // // ReplaceCommas = true if locale uses commas to separate decimals
var ls = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getSheetByName(LogSheet); // Data sheet
var RowNum = br.getHeight();
/* Adjust the range 'br'
??? !
xxx x
xxx x
xxx => x
xxx x
xxx x
*/
br = ts.getRange(br.getRow(), columnsLevels[CurrentLevel - 2], RowNum);
// Levels
var HeadLevel = CurrentLevel - 1; // main level
var X = NumOfLevels - CurrentLevel + 1; // number of levels left
// determine columns on the sheet "Data"
var KudaCol = NumOfLevels + 2;
var KudaNado = ls.getRange(1, KudaCol); // 1 place for a formula
var lastRow = ls.getLastRow();
var ChtoNado = ls.getRange(1, KudaCol, lastRow, KudaCol); // the range with list, returned by a formula
// ============================================================================= > loop >
var CurrLevelBase = CurrentLevel; // remember the first current level
for (var j = 1; j <= RowNum; j++) // [01] loop rows start
{
// refresh first val
var currentRow = br.getCell(j, 1).getRow();
loopColumns_(HeadLevel, X, currentRow, NumOfLevels, CurrLevelBase, lastRow, FormulaSplitter, CurrLevelBase, columnsLevels, br, KudaNado, ChtoNado, ReplaceCommas, ts);
} // [01] loop rows end
}
function getColumnsOffset_(offsets, lefColumn)
{
// Columns for all levels
var columnsLevels = [];
var totalOffset = 0;
for (var i = 0, l = offsets.length; i < l; i++)
{
totalOffset += offsets[i];
columnsLevels.push(totalOffset + lefColumn - 1);
}
return columnsLevels;
}
function test_getCurrentLevel()
{
var br = SpreadsheetApp.getActive().getActiveSheet().getRange('A5:C5');
var scol = 1;
/*
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
range |xxxxx|
dv range |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|
levels 1 2 3
level 2
*/
Logger.log(getCurrentLevel_(1, br, scol, [1,2,3])); // 2
/*
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
range |xxxxxxxxxxx|
dv range |xxxxx| |xxxxx| |xxxxx|
levels 1 2 3
level 2
*/
Logger.log(getCurrentLevel_(2, br, scol, [1,3,5])); // 2
/*
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
range |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|
dv range |xxxxx| |xxxxxxxxxxx|
levels 1 2 3
level 2
*/
Logger.log(getCurrentLevel_(3, br, scol, [1,5,6])); // 2
/*
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
range |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|
dv range |xxxxxxxxxxx| |xxxxx|
levels 1 2 3
level 3
*/
Logger.log(getCurrentLevel_(3, br, scol, [1,2,8])); // 3
/*
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
range |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|
dv range |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|
levels 1 2 3
level 4 (error)
*/
Logger.log(getCurrentLevel_(3, br, scol, [1,2,3]));
/*
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
range |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|
dv range |xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx|
levels
level 1 (error)
*/
Logger.log(getCurrentLevel_(3, br, scol, [5,6,7])); // 1
}
function getCurrentLevel_(ColNum, br, scol, columnsLevels)
{
var colPlus = 2; // const
if (ColNum === 1) { return columnsLevels.indexOf(scol) + colPlus; }
var CurrentLevel = -1;
var level = 0;
var column = 0;
for (var i = 0; i < ColNum; i++ )
{
column = br.offset(0, i).getColumn();
level = columnsLevels.indexOf(column) + colPlus;
if (level > CurrentLevel) { CurrentLevel = level; }
}
return CurrentLevel;
}
function loopColumns_(HeadLevel, X, currentRow, NumOfLevels, CurrentLevel, lastRow, FormulaSplitter, CurrLevelBase, columnsLevels, br, KudaNado, ChtoNado, ReplaceCommas, ts)
{
for (var k = 1; k <= X; k++)
{
HeadLevel = HeadLevel + k - 1;
CurrentLevel = CurrLevelBase + k - 1;
var r = ts.getRange(currentRow, columnsLevels[CurrentLevel - 2]);
var SearchText = r.getValue(); // searched text
X = loopColumn_(X, SearchText, HeadLevel, HeadLevel, currentRow, NumOfLevels, CurrentLevel, lastRow, FormulaSplitter, CurrLevelBase, columnsLevels, br, KudaNado, ChtoNado, ReplaceCommas, ts);
}
}
function loopColumn_(X, SearchText, HeadLevel, HeadLevel, currentRow, NumOfLevels, CurrentLevel, lastRow, FormulaSplitter, CurrLevelBase, columnsLevels, br, KudaNado, ChtoNado, ReplaceCommas, ts)
{
// if nothing is chosen!
if (SearchText === '') // condition value =''
{
// kill extra data validation if there were
// columns on the right
if (CurrentLevel <= NumOfLevels)
{
for (var f = 0; f < X; f++)
{
var cell = ts.getRange(currentRow, columnsLevels[CurrentLevel + f - 1]);
// clean & get rid of validation
cell.clear({contentsOnly: true});
cell.clear({validationsOnly: true});
// exit columns loop
}
}
return 0; // end loop this row
}
// formula for values
var formula = getDVListFormula_(CurrentLevel, currentRow, columnsLevels, lastRow, ReplaceCommas, FormulaSplitter, ts);
KudaNado.setFormula(formula);
// get response
var Response = getResponse_(ChtoNado, lastRow, ReplaceCommas);
var Variants = Response.length;
// build data validation rule
if (Variants === 0.0) // empty is found
{
return;
}
if(Variants >= 1.0) // if some variants were found
{
var cell = ts.getRange(currentRow, columnsLevels[CurrentLevel - 1]);
var rule = SpreadsheetApp
.newDataValidation()
.requireValueInList(Response, true)
.setAllowInvalid(false)
.build();
// set validation rule
cell.setDataValidation(rule);
}
if (Variants === 1.0) // // set the only value
{
cell.setValue(Response[0]);
SearchText = null;
Response = null;
return X; // continue doing DV
} // the only value
return 0; // end DV in this row
}
function getDVListFormula_(CurrentLevel, currentRow, columnsLevels, lastRow, ReplaceCommas, FormulaSplitter, ts)
{
var checkVals = [];
var Offs = CurrentLevel - 2;
var values = [];
// get values and display values for a formula
for (var s = 0; s <= Offs; s++)
{
var checkR = ts.getRange(currentRow, columnsLevels[s]);
values.push(checkR.getValue());
}
var LookCol = colName(CurrentLevel-1); // gets column name "A,B,C..."
var formula = '=unique(filter(' + LookCol + '2:' + LookCol + lastRow; // =unique(filter(A2:A84
var mathOpPlusVal = '';
var value = '';
// loop levels for multiple conditions
for (var i = 0; i < CurrentLevel - 1; i++) {
formula += FormulaSplitter; // =unique(filter(A2:A84;
LookCol = colName(i);
value = values[i];
mathOpPlusVal = getValueAndMathOpForFunction_(value, FormulaSplitter, ReplaceCommas); // =unique(filter(A2:A84;B2:B84="Text"
if ( Array.isArray(mathOpPlusVal) )
{
formula += mathOpPlusVal[0];
formula += LookCol + '2:' + LookCol + lastRow; // =unique(filter(A2:A84;ROUND(B2:B84
formula += mathOpPlusVal[1];
}
else
{
formula += LookCol + '2:' + LookCol + lastRow; // =unique(filter(A2:A84;B2:B84
formula += mathOpPlusVal;
}
}
formula += "))"; //=unique(filter(A2:A84;B2:B84="Text"))
return formula;
}
function getValueAndMathOpForFunction_(value, FormulaSplitter, ReplaceCommas)
{
var result = '';
var splinter = '';
var type = typeof value;
// strings
if (type === 'string') return '="' + value + '"';
// date
if(value instanceof Date)
{
return ['ROUND(', FormulaSplitter +'5)=ROUND(DATE(' + value.getFullYear() + FormulaSplitter + (value.getMonth() + 1) + FormulaSplitter + value.getDate() + ')' + '+'
+ 'TIME(' + value.getHours() + FormulaSplitter + value.getMinutes() + FormulaSplitter + value.getSeconds() + ')' + FormulaSplitter + '5)'];
}
// numbers
if (type === 'number')
{
if (ReplaceCommas)
{
return '+0=' + value.toString().replace('.', ',');
}
else
{
return '+0=' + value;
}
}
// booleans
if (type === 'boolean')
{
return '=' + value;
}
// other
return '=' + value;
}
function getResponse_(allRange, l, ReplaceCommas)
{
var data = allRange.getValues();
var data_ = allRange.getDisplayValues();
var response = [];
var val = '';
for (var i = 0; i < l; i++)
{
val = data[i][0];
if (val !== '')
{
var type = typeof val;
if (type === 'boolean' || val instanceof Date) val = String(data_[i][0]);
if (type === 'number' && ReplaceCommas) val = val.toString().replace('.', ',')
response.push(val);
}
}
return response;
}
function colName(n) {
var ordA = 'a'.charCodeAt(0);
var ordZ = 'z'.charCodeAt(0);
var len = ordZ - ordA + 1;
var s = "";
while(n >= 0) {
s = String.fromCharCode(n % len + ordA) + s;
n = Math.floor(n / len) - 1;
}
return s;
}
function getDecimalMarkIsCommaLocals() {
// list of Locals Decimal mark = comma
var LANGUAGE_BY_LOCALE = {
af_NA: "Afrikaans (Namibia)",
af_ZA: "Afrikaans (South Africa)",
af: "Afrikaans",
sq_AL: "Albanian (Albania)",
sq: "Albanian",
ar_DZ: "Arabic (Algeria)",
ar_BH: "Arabic (Bahrain)",
ar_EG: "Arabic (Egypt)",
ar_IQ: "Arabic (Iraq)",
ar_JO: "Arabic (Jordan)",
ar_KW: "Arabic (Kuwait)",
ar_LB: "Arabic (Lebanon)",
ar_LY: "Arabic (Libya)",
ar_MA: "Arabic (Morocco)",
ar_OM: "Arabic (Oman)",
ar_QA: "Arabic (Qatar)",
ar_SA: "Arabic (Saudi Arabia)",
ar_SD: "Arabic (Sudan)",
ar_SY: "Arabic (Syria)",
ar_TN: "Arabic (Tunisia)",
ar_AE: "Arabic (United Arab Emirates)",
ar_YE: "Arabic (Yemen)",
ar: "Arabic",
hy_AM: "Armenian (Armenia)",
hy: "Armenian",
eu_ES: "Basque (Spain)",
eu: "Basque",
be_BY: "Belarusian (Belarus)",
be: "Belarusian",
bg_BG: "Bulgarian (Bulgaria)",
bg: "Bulgarian",
ca_ES: "Catalan (Spain)",
ca: "Catalan",
tzm_Latn: "Central Morocco Tamazight (Latin)",
tzm_Latn_MA: "Central Morocco Tamazight (Latin, Morocco)",
tzm: "Central Morocco Tamazight",
da_DK: "Danish (Denmark)",
da: "Danish",
nl_BE: "Dutch (Belgium)",
nl_NL: "Dutch (Netherlands)",
nl: "Dutch",
et_EE: "Estonian (Estonia)",
et: "Estonian",
fi_FI: "Finnish (Finland)",
fi: "Finnish",
fr_BE: "French (Belgium)",
fr_BJ: "French (Benin)",
fr_BF: "French (Burkina Faso)",
fr_BI: "French (Burundi)",
fr_CM: "French (Cameroon)",
fr_CA: "French (Canada)",
fr_CF: "French (Central African Republic)",
fr_TD: "French (Chad)",
fr_KM: "French (Comoros)",
fr_CG: "French (Congo - Brazzaville)",
fr_CD: "French (Congo - Kinshasa)",
fr_CI: "French (Côte d’Ivoire)",
fr_DJ: "French (Djibouti)",
fr_GQ: "French (Equatorial Guinea)",
fr_FR: "French (France)",
fr_GA: "French (Gabon)",
fr_GP: "French (Guadeloupe)",
fr_GN: "French (Guinea)",
fr_LU: "French (Luxembourg)",
fr_MG: "French (Madagascar)",
fr_ML: "French (Mali)",
fr_MQ: "French (Martinique)",
fr_MC: "French (Monaco)",
fr_NE: "French (Niger)",
fr_RW: "French (Rwanda)",
fr_RE: "French (Réunion)",
fr_BL: "French (Saint Barthélemy)",
fr_MF: "French (Saint Martin)",
fr_SN: "French (Senegal)",
fr_CH: "French (Switzerland)",
fr_TG: "French (Togo)",
fr: "French",
gl_ES: "Galician (Spain)",
gl: "Galician",
ka_GE: "Georgian (Georgia)",
ka: "Georgian",
de_AT: "German (Austria)",
de_BE: "German (Belgium)",
de_DE: "German (Germany)",
de_LI: "German (Liechtenstein)",
de_LU: "German (Luxembourg)",
de_CH: "German (Switzerland)",
de: "German",
el_CY: "Greek (Cyprus)",
el_GR: "Greek (Greece)",
el: "Greek",
hu_HU: "Hungarian (Hungary)",
hu: "Hungarian",
is_IS: "Icelandic (Iceland)",
is: "Icelandic",
id_ID: "Indonesian (Indonesia)",
id: "Indonesian",
it_IT: "Italian (Italy)",
it_CH: "Italian (Switzerland)",
it: "Italian",
kab_DZ: "Kabyle (Algeria)",
kab: "Kabyle",
kl_GL: "Kalaallisut (Greenland)",
kl: "Kalaallisut",
lv_LV: "Latvian (Latvia)",
lv: "Latvian",
lt_LT: "Lithuanian (Lithuania)",
lt: "Lithuanian",
mk_MK: "Macedonian (Macedonia)",
mk: "Macedonian",
naq_NA: "Nama (Namibia)",
naq: "Nama",
pl_PL: "Polish (Poland)",
pl: "Polish",
pt_BR: "Portuguese (Brazil)",
pt_GW: "Portuguese (Guinea-Bissau)",
pt_MZ: "Portuguese (Mozambique)",
pt_PT: "Portuguese (Portugal)",
pt: "Portuguese",
ro_MD: "Romanian (Moldova)",
ro_RO: "Romanian (Romania)",
ro: "Romanian",
ru_MD: "Russian (Moldova)",
ru_RU: "Russian (Russia)",
ru_UA: "Russian (Ukraine)",
ru: "Russian",
seh_MZ: "Sena (Mozambique)",
seh: "Sena",
sk_SK: "Slovak (Slovakia)",
sk: "Slovak",
sl_SI: "Slovenian (Slovenia)",
sl: "Slovenian",
es_AR: "Spanish (Argentina)",
es_BO: "Spanish (Bolivia)",
es_CL: "Spanish (Chile)",
es_CO: "Spanish (Colombia)",
es_CR: "Spanish (Costa Rica)",
es_DO: "Spanish (Dominican Republic)",
es_EC: "Spanish (Ecuador)",
es_SV: "Spanish (El Salvador)",
es_GQ: "Spanish (Equatorial Guinea)",
es_GT: "Spanish (Guatemala)",
es_HN: "Spanish (Honduras)",
es_419: "Spanish (Latin America)",
es_MX: "Spanish (Mexico)",
es_NI: "Spanish (Nicaragua)",
es_PA: "Spanish (Panama)",
es_PY: "Spanish (Paraguay)",
es_PE: "Spanish (Peru)",
es_PR: "Spanish (Puerto Rico)",
es_ES: "Spanish (Spain)",
es_US: "Spanish (United States)",
es_UY: "Spanish (Uruguay)",
es_VE: "Spanish (Venezuela)",
es: "Spanish",
sv_FI: "Swedish (Finland)",
sv_SE: "Swedish (Sweden)",
sv: "Swedish",
tr_TR: "Turkish (Turkey)",
tr: "Turkish",
uk_UA: "Ukrainian (Ukraine)",
uk: "Ukrainian",
vi_VN: "Vietnamese (Vietnam)",
vi: "Vietnamese"
}
var SS = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var LocalS = SS.getSpreadsheetLocale();
if (LANGUAGE_BY_LOCALE[LocalS] == undefined) {
return false;
}
//Logger.log(true);
return true;
}
/*
function ReplaceDotsToCommas(dataIn) {
var dataOut = dataIn.map(function(num) {
if (isNaN(num)) {
return num;
}
num = num.toString();
return num.replace(".", ",");
});
return dataOut;
}
*/
Here's set of variables that are to be changed, you'll find them in script:
var TargetSheet = 'Main'; // name of sheet with data validation
var LogSheet = 'Data2'; // name of sheet with data
var NumOfLevels = 7; // number of levels of data validation
var lcol = 9; // number of column where validation starts; A = 1, B = 2, etc.
var lrow = 2; // number of row where validation starts
var offsets = [1,1,1,1,1,1,1]; // offsets for levels
I suggest everyone, who knows scripts well, send your edits to this code. I guess, there's simpler way to find validation list and make script run faster.

Answer 3

Here you have another solution based on the one provided by #tarheel
function onEdit() {
var sheetWithNestedSelectsName = "Sitemap";
var columnWithNestedSelectsRoot = 1;
var sheetWithOptionPossibleValuesSuffix = "TabSections";
var activeSpreadsheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
var activeSheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet();
// If we're not in the sheet with nested selects, exit!
if ( activeSheet.getName() != sheetWithNestedSelectsName ) {
return;
}
var activeCell = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveRange();
// If we're not in the root column or a content row, exit!
if ( activeCell.getColumn() != columnWithNestedSelectsRoot || activeCell.getRow() < 2 ) {
return;
}
var sheetWithActiveOptionPossibleValues = activeSpreadsheet.getSheetByName( activeCell.getValue() + sheetWithOptionPossibleValuesSuffix );
// Get all possible values
var activeOptionPossibleValues = sheetWithActiveOptionPossibleValues.getSheetValues( 1, 1, -1, 1 );
var possibleValuesValidation = SpreadsheetApp.newDataValidation();
possibleValuesValidation.setAllowInvalid( false );
possibleValuesValidation.requireValueInList( activeOptionPossibleValues, true );
activeSheet.getRange( activeCell.getRow(), activeCell.getColumn() + 1 ).setDataValidation( possibleValuesValidation.build() );
}
It has some benefits over the other approach:
You don't need to edit the script every time you add a "root option". You only have to create a new sheet with the nested options of this root option.
I've refactored the script providing more semantic names for the variables and so on. Furthermore, I've extracted some parameters to variables in order to make it easier to adapt to your specific case. You only have to set the first 3 values.
There's no limit of nested option values (I've used the getSheetValues method with the -1 value).
So, how to use it:
Create the sheet where you'll have the nested selectors
Go to the "Tools" > "Script Editor…" and select the "Blank project" option
Paste the code attached to this answer
Modify the first 3 variables of the script setting up your values and save it
Create one sheet within this same document for each possible value of the "root selector". They must be named as the value + the specified suffix.
Enjoy!

Answer 4

Edit: The answer below may be satisfactory, but it has some drawbacks:
There is a noticeable pause for the running of the script. I'm on a 160 ms latency, and it's enough to be annoying.
It works by building a new range each time you edit a given row. This gives an 'invalid contents' to previous entries some of the time
I hope others can clean this up somewhat.
Here's another way to do it, that saves you a ton of range naming:
Three sheets in the worksheet: call them Main, List, and DRange (for dynamic range.)
On the Main sheet, column 1 contains a timestamp. This time stamp is modified onEdit.
On List your categories and subcategories are arranged as a simple list. I'm using this for plant inventory at my tree farm, so my list looks like this:
Group | Genus | Bot_Name
Conifer | Abies | Abies balsamea
Conifer | Abies | Abies concolor
Conifer | Abies | Abies lasiocarpa var bifolia
Conifer | Pinus | Pinus ponderosa
Conifer | Pinus | Pinus sylvestris
Conifer | Pinus | Pinus banksiana
Conifer | Pinus | Pinus cembra
Conifer | Picea | Picea pungens
Conifer | Picea | Picea glauca
Deciduous | Acer | Acer ginnala
Deciduous | Acer | Acer negundo
Deciduous | Salix | Salix discolor
Deciduous | Salix | Salix fragilis
...
Where | indicates separation into columns.
For convenience I also used the headers as names for named ranges.
DRrange A1 has the formula
=Max(Main!A2:A1000)
This returns the most recent timestamp.
A2 to A4 have variations on:
=vlookup($A$1,Inventory!$A$1:$E$1000,2,False)
with the 2 being incremented for each cell to the right.
On running A2 to A4 will have the currently selected Group, Genus and Species.
Below each of these, is a filter command something like this:
=unique(filter(Bot_Name,REGEXMATCH(Bot_Name,C1)))
These filters will populate a block below with matching entries to the contents of the top cell.
The filters can be modified to suit your needs, and to the format of your list.
Back to Main: Data validation in Main is done using ranges from DRange.
The script I use:
function onEdit(event) {
//SETTINGS
var dynamicSheet='DRange'; //sheet where the dynamic range lives
var tsheet = 'Main'; //the sheet you are monitoring for edits
var lcol = 2; //left-most column number you are monitoring; A=1, B=2 etc
var rcol = 5; //right-most column number you are monitoring
var tcol = 1; //column number in which you wish to populate the timestamp
//
var s = event.source.getActiveSheet();
var sname = s.getName();
if (sname == tsheet) {
var r = event.source.getActiveRange();
var scol = r.getColumn(); //scol is the column number of the edited cell
if (scol >= lcol && scol <= rcol) {
s.getRange(r.getRow(), tcol).setValue(new Date());
for(var looper=scol+1; looper<=rcol; looper++) {
s.getRange(r.getRow(),looper).setValue(""); //After edit clear the entries to the right
}
}
}
}
Original Youtube presentation that gave me most of the onEdit timestamp component:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDK8rjdE85Y

Answer 5

Continuing the evolution of this solution I've upped the ante by adding support for multiple root selections and deeper nested selections. This is a further development of JavierCane's solution (which in turn built on tarheel's).
/**
* "on edit" event handler
*
* Based on JavierCane's answer in
*
* http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21744547/how-do-you-do-dynamic-dependent-drop-downs-in-google-sheets
*
* Each set of options has it own sheet named after the option. The
* values in this sheet are used to populate the drop-down.
*
* The top row is assumed to be a header.
*
* The sub-category column is assumed to be the next column to the right.
*
* If there are no sub-categories the next column along is cleared in
* case the previous selection did have options.
*/
function onEdit() {
var NESTED_SELECTS_SHEET_NAME = "Sitemap"
var NESTED_SELECTS_ROOT_COLUMN = 1
var SUB_CATEGORY_COLUMN = NESTED_SELECTS_ROOT_COLUMN + 1
var NUMBER_OF_ROOT_OPTION_CELLS = 3
var OPTION_POSSIBLE_VALUES_SHEET_SUFFIX = ""
var activeSpreadsheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet()
var activeSheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSheet()
if (activeSheet.getName() !== NESTED_SELECTS_SHEET_NAME) {
// Not in the sheet with nested selects, exit!
return
}
var activeCell = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveRange()
// Top row is the header
if (activeCell.getColumn() > SUB_CATEGORY_COLUMN ||
activeCell.getRow() === 1 ||
activeCell.getRow() > NUMBER_OF_ROOT_OPTION_CELLS + 1) {
// Out of selection range, exit!
return
}
var sheetWithActiveOptionPossibleValues = activeSpreadsheet
.getSheetByName(activeCell.getValue() + OPTION_POSSIBLE_VALUES_SHEET_SUFFIX)
if (sheetWithActiveOptionPossibleValues === null) {
// There are no further options for this value, so clear out any old
// values
activeSheet
.getRange(activeCell.getRow(), activeCell.getColumn() + 1)
.clearDataValidations()
.clearContent()
return
}
// Get all possible values
var activeOptionPossibleValues = sheetWithActiveOptionPossibleValues
.getSheetValues(1, 1, -1, 1)
var possibleValuesValidation = SpreadsheetApp.newDataValidation()
possibleValuesValidation.setAllowInvalid(false)
possibleValuesValidation.requireValueInList(activeOptionPossibleValues, true)
activeSheet
.getRange(activeCell.getRow(), activeCell.getColumn() + 1)
.setDataValidation(possibleValuesValidation.build())
} // onEdit()
As Javier says:
Create the sheet where you'll have the nested selectors
Go to the "Tools" > "Script Editor…" and select the "Blank project"
option
Paste the code attached to this answer
Modify the constants at the top of the script setting up your values
and save it
Create one sheet within this same document for each possible value of
the "root selector". They must be named as the value + the specified
suffix.
And if you wanted to see it in action I've created a demo sheet and you can see the code if you take a copy.