Data Validation - Is there a way to surpass the 255 characters limit?

"Your formulas that return "" effectively hide those cells. We could apply Conditional Formatting to change them to white text on a white background - that is easy to do, but not really needed." Yes I had done it before you had added the pre-requested codes to hide the rows, but it seemed very unprofessional. 

I was wondering if we can add a text "--Select a field--" and "--Select a course--" to the cells C3 and C4 (respectively) in the sheet "GE Courses Description" before a student clicks on the drop-down list to choose their corresponding choice. Just like we have in cell C2 of the same sheet, but does not show on the drop-down list. I don't know if my answer is clear but I hope you get me? I tried doing it myself but it won't work even if I add the previously mentioned to every named range, as it would only show once the drop-down list is clicked, but not before. I believe it needs a code as well, am I correct?

Thank you a lot Bernie

Change the event code for sheet GE Courses Description to the code below, but also you will need to change the lookup cells - for example, C5 - from

=IF(ISTEXT($C$4),VLOOKUP($C$4,'GE Database'!M4:S444,2,FALSE),"")

to

=IFERROR(IF(ISTEXT($C$4),VLOOKUP($C$4,'GE Database'!M4:S444,2,FALSE),""),"")

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)

    If Target.Address <> "$C$2" Then Exit Sub

    Application.EnableEvents = False

    If Target.Value = "Arabic Communication Skills" Or Target.Value = "English Communication Skills" Or Target.Value = "Writing in Discipline" Then

        Range("C3").Value = "Leave blank"

        Range("C3").EntireRow.Hidden = True

        Range("C4").Value = "--Select a course--"

    Else

        Range("C3").EntireRow.Hidden = False

        Range("C3").Value = "--Select a field--"

        Range("C4").Value = "--Select a course--"

    End If

    Application.EnableEvents = True

End Sub

Dear Bernie,

I don't know what went wrong with my workbook, but it seems that every time I click on any of the drop-down cells that you had added codes to to hide other rows when they contain a specific text, my excel document completely crashes and stops functioning. Not only that, the whole workbook freezes and I can't press on anything else before I press CTRL+ALT+DELETE and kill the program from the task manager. I tried opening from different copies that I have, and they all gave me the same outcome. Do you have any idea why is this happening? It's a disaster to be honest if I can't fix this problem...

It worked for me in the version that I uploaded last - it is possible that one event is triggering another, getting into an infinite loop.  So, try this version:

https://1drv.ms/x/s!AsKdy7Nfg\_FbgjFY4XgJhCasHG3T

It allows me to make any and all changes - so here's hoping...

Again Bernie, I thank you very much, I'm actually very honored to have met you here while I'm also very embarrassed from you for the amount of questions I had asked. Thank you.

Weirdly, the last link that you had sent work, although I don't know why the previous one had crashed. I hope this issue doesn't happen again, but in case it does, you'll have to excuse me if I ask you for her once again.

Much respect to you sir.