It can save you time and also make it easier to make sense of your formulas for complex spreadsheets. If you’re ready to start putting names to your cells, then learn how to name a range in Excel below.
What is a Named Range in Excel?
A named range in Excel is a label applied to a single cell or group of cells. For example, if you have a list of sales figures in cells B1:B22, you can rename that specific range as ‘Sales’. You can create as many named ranges as you wish, as long as each one has a unique name. You would not be able to create two different ranges with the name ‘Sales’ for example.
Why Name a Range in Excel?
There are a few reasons why naming ranges in Excel can be a good idea. Firstly, if your ranges contain large amounts of data, selecting the entire range can become time-consuming. Named ranges allow you to use the name in place of the cell references, making it quick and easy to refer to specific cells in formulas. If you create dynamic ranges, as explained below, it also means you don’t need to update your formulas when you add additional data to a range. By referring to the range by name, it will always include all of the data in the range, even if you add more. Named ranges can also be useful for helping you to quickly navigate around large spreadsheets; you can select the named range in your spreadsheet to be taken directly to those cells.
How to Name a Range in Excel
There are several ways that you can name a range in Excel. The method that you choose will depend on whether you’re just naming a single range, or there are multiple ranges that you want to name at once.
How to Name a Range Using the Name Box
One of the quickest and easiest ways to name a range in Excel is to use the Name box. This is because this box is always visible in your spreadsheet and can be accessed without needing to change to a different ribbon. It’s also a useful way to quickly navigate to specific ranges within your spreadsheet. To name a range using the Name box:
How to Name a Range Using the Define Name Tool
You can also name a range using the Define Name tool. You can access this tool via a context menu or by using the Formulas ribbon. To name a range using the Define Name tool:
How to Name a Range From a Selection
This method is particularly useful if you have a lot of ranges that you want to name. It allows you to name multiple ranges by using their column headers to define their names. To name a range from a selection:
How to Create Dynamic Named Ranges
One issue that can be caused when using ranges is that they refer to a set range of cells. If you add any additional data to your spreadsheet, these new values won’t be included in your range, since they’re outside the array of cells you originally selected. It’s possible to create a dynamic named range, however, which will always include any additional data that you add to a column. To create a dynamic named range in Excel:
How to Edit Range Names in Excel
If you decide that you want to change the name for a range or delete one entirely, you can do so using the Name Manager. To edit range names in Name Manager:
Saving Time in Microsoft Excel
Knowing how to name a range in Excel can save you a lot of time by allowing you to refer to ranges by name rather than having to reference their cells. It’s also a useful way to be able to navigate around a large spreadsheet. There are plenty of other ways you can use Excel features to save time when working on your spreadsheets. You can learn how to convert a zero to a dash in Excel to make it easy to spot cells that don’t contain data. You can learn how to find merged cells in Excel if you need to remove them. If you want to save time by adding the same cells to different sheets, you’ll need to know how to group sheets in Excel, too. Comment Name * Email *
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