You'll have to link a range of your workbook to the closed file or
import data from the access table, and then use that range for the data
validation.
HTH
Daniel

is there a way to do a data validation to a seperate spreadsheet that is not
open. I have been able to do the validation to the spreadsheet but it must
be open to work. The spreadsheet is very large and i would perfer to keep it
closed.

or Could i do a data validation to an Access table?