If erroneous entries are being entered with no warning perhaps you have
DataValidationError AlertShow error etc. unchecked.

As far as the DV lists disappearing I don't have a guess unless you are not
opening the same workbook.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Thu, 6 Aug 2009 11:22:01 -0700, Erin Searfoss
wrote:

Hi All,

I'm using Excel 2003. On one tab I have a range named Cats with category
names. On all my other sheets I'm setting column F to use validation based
on this list. When I first apply the validation (i.e. Allow: List, Source:
=Cats) the drop down appears when in any effected cell, but erroneous entries
are still allowed. Then when I save and reopen the file the validation isn't
there at all (i.e. no dropdown list and no indication of any previous
settings in the validation dialog box.) I use this same method in a
different file at least once a month without an issue. Any idea what I could
be doing wrong? Thanks

Erin