Maybe something like this:

With
A dynamic range name defined as: rngMyDynList
That list refers to your source data and returns the list of all names
(excluding the column heading) that will be culled into a sorted list of all
names.

Then....on a sheet named "ListTest" that will contain the Data Validation
list source range

A1: DV_List (or any other column heading you want)

Put this ARRAY FORMULA in
A2:
=IF(COUNTA(rngMyDynList)<0,IF(SUM(-ISERROR(MATCH(rngMyDynList,$A$1:$A1,0))),INDEX(rng MyDynList,MATCH(1,--ISERROR(MATCH(rngMyDynList,$A$1:$A1,0)),0),1),""), "")

Copy A2
Paste into A3 and down as far as you think you'll need

Create this dynamic named range, which will be the Data Validation list
Name: DV_List
Refers to: =OFFSET(ListTest!$A$1,1,0,COUNTIF(ListTest!$A:$A," ="&"?*")-1,1)

Last.....Select the cells to use Data Validation and
set the list source to "DV_List"

Example:
On the list source range:
A1: Heading
A2: Dog
A3: Dog
A4: Cat
A5: Bird
A6: Cat

On the sheet containing the DV list, the formulas return:
A1: DV_List
A2: Dog
A3: Cat
A4: Bird

and the DV dropdown list displays
Dog
Cat
Bird

Is that something you can work with?
***********
Regards,
Ron

XL2002, WinXP


"Brian H" wrote:

I have the following data table.

Name Month qs1 qs2 qs3
John Jan-07 4 5 5
John Jan-07 4 4 3
Jim Jan-07 5 5 5
Jim Jan-07 4 4 5
John Feb-07 5 5 4
John Feb-07 5 4 5
Alice Feb-07 5 5 5
Alice Feb-07 4 4 5
Jim Feb-07 5 3 3
Jim Feb-07 5 5 5

What I am trying to do is extract a list of the names. the names are in a
dynamic range call namelist. As time goes on names could be added to the
list and I would like to have an automatic list of all names for use in a
drop down list for score review.

Thoughts and Thanks!