Define Names

Opens a dialogue box where you can specify a name for a selected area or a name for a formula expression.

Use the mouse to define ranges or type the reference into the Define Name dialogue box fields.

To access this command...

Choose Sheet - Named Ranges and Expressions - Define.

Ctrl+F3

The Sheet Area box on the Formula bar contains a list of defined names for the ranges or formula expressions and their scope between parenthesis. Click a name from this box to highlight the corresponding reference on the spreadsheet. Names given formulas or parts of a formula are not listed here.

Name

Enter the name of the area for which you want to define a reference or a formula expression. All area names already defined in the spreadsheet are listed in the text field above. If you click a name on the list, the corresponding reference in the document will be shown with a blue frame. If multiple cell ranges belong to the same area name, they are displayed with different coloured frames.

Range or formula expression

The reference of the selected area name is shown here as an absolute value.

To insert a new area reference, place the cursor in this field and use your mouse to select the desired area in any sheet of your spreadsheet document. To insert a new named formula, type the formula expression.

Shrink / Expand

Click the Shrink icon to reduce the dialog to the size of the input field. It is then easier to mark the required reference in the sheet. The icons then automatically convert to the Expand icon. Click it to restore the dialog to its original size.

The dialogue box is automatically minimised when you click within a sheet with the mouse. As soon as you release the mouse button, the dialogue box is restored and the reference range defined with the mouse is highlighted in the document by a blue frame.

Shrink

Expand

Scope

Select the scope of the named range or named formula. Document (Global) means the name is valid for the whole document. Any other sheet name selected will restrict the scope of the named range or formula expression to that sheet.

Range options

Allows you to specify the Area type (optional) for the reference.

Defines additional options related to the type of reference area.

Print range

Defines the area as a print range.

Filter

Defines the selected area to be used in an advanced filter.

Repeat column

Defines the area as a repeating column.

Repeat row

Defines the area as a repeating row.

Add

Click the Add button to add a new defined name.

Delete

Deletes the selected element or elements after confirmation.