Insert Menu/Names/Create

[dpeattie]

How exactly do I make this feature work? The tutorials are of no help whatsoever.

Please e-mail me directly at dpeattie@yahoo.com. Thanks!

David

 

[PaddyD]

Hi - welcome to the board!

How about posting back with a bit more info on what you are actually trying to do!

Paddy

 

[dpeattie]

Hi, Paddy!

Well, what I'm trying to do is to learn how each function on the Excel menus works by going through them one at a time. And on the Insert menu, I'm getting stuck because while the Help feature explains generally what each button does, nothing actually tells me how to make it happen.

For instance, when I go to the Insert menu and bring up the Names sub-menu, I click on the Create button and nothing happens. The tutorial tipped me off that I needed to select more than one cell, so I did that, but it still doesn't appear to do anything when I click on the Create button. So I guess what I'm asking is, what part of the job is the tutorial not telling me? Do I need to have the cursor in a special position? Is there some other step involved that I'm not aware of? Any help you can give is deeply appreciated!

David

 

[PaddyD]

OK - you use 'names' to refer to worksheet areas, which might be one or more cells (the cells do not necessarily have to be contiguous). Try this to get you going:

1) put some numbers in cells a1 - a5.
2) select the cells
3) go to insert | names | define. Type in a name (eg myfirstrange) & click 'add'. Click 'OK'
4) in a spare cell, put in the following formula:

=sum(myfirstrange)

see what you get!

Paddy

 

[PaddyD]

Oops - forgot to tell you what the 'create' bit does!!

The create option is basically a shortcut - with data set up right, excel will 'define' the names for you. Try this -

1) set up a dumy table with, e.g., dates as the column headings in row1 & some data in a few rows below the headings.
2) select the entire table & go insert | name | create. Excel will probably have selected 'Top row' as the option - click OK.
3) Press F5 (keyboard shortcut for the "go to' option) - you should see your column headings as named ranges. select on & it should highlight the data area under the column that you selected.

Benefits of using 'create' - easy to set up a large number of named ranges quickly
Limitations - Don't get to choose your own names, areas are not dynamic etc.

Paddy

 

[dpeattie]

Thanks, Paddy! That did the trick!

David

 

[Excello]

Hi dpeattie !!

I am not that expert, but I have found out that if I know the range name, I can just write it in the "Name Box" & it will directly highlight the range. I think this is another trick.

Thanks to Paddy & eveyone here.

Excello