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

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!