Names In Formulas - Microsoft Support

Manage names by using the Name Manager dialog box

Use the Name Manager dialog box to work with all the defined names and table names in a workbook. For example, you may want to find names with errors, confirm the value and reference of a name, view or edit descriptive comments, or determine the scope. You can also sort and filter the list of names, and easily add, change, or delete names from one location.

To open the Name Manager dialog box, on the Formulas tab, in the Defined Names group, click Name Manager.

View names

The Name Manager dialog box displays the following information about each name in a list box:

This Column:	Displays:
Icon and Name	One of the following: A defined name, which is indicated by a defined name icon. A table name, which is indicated by a table name icon.
Value	The current value of the name, such as the results of a formula, a string constant, a cell range, an error, an array of values, or a placeholder if the formula cannot be evaluated. The following are representative examples: "this is my string constant" 3.1459 {2003;12,2002;23,;2001,18} #REF! {...}
Refers To	The current reference for the name. The following are representative examples: =Sheet1!$A$3 =8.3 =HR!$A$1:$Z$345 =SUM(Sheet1!A1,Sheet2!B2)
Scope	A worksheet name, if the scope is the local worksheet level. "Workbook," if the scope is the global worksheet level.
Comment	Additional information about the name up to 255 characters. The following are representative examples: This value will expire on May 2, 2007. Don't delete! Critical name! Based on the ISO certification exam numbers.

• You cannot use the Name Manager dialog box while you are changing the contents of a cell.

• The Name Manager dialog box does not display names defined in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), or hidden names (the Visible property of the name is set to "False").

Resize columns

• To automatically size the column to fit the longest value in that column, double-click the right side of the column header.

Sort names

• To sort the list of names in ascending or descending order, click the column header.

Filter names

Use the commands in the Filter drop-down list to quickly display a subset of names. Selecting each command toggles the filter operation on or off, making it easy to combine or remove different filter operations to get the results you want.

To filter the list of names, do one or more of the following:

Select:	To:
Names Scoped To Worksheet	Display only those names that are local to a worksheet.
Names Scoped To Workbook	Display only those names that are global to a workbook.
Names With Errors	Display only those names with values containing errors (such as #REF, #VALUE, or #NAME).
Names Without Errors	Display only those names with values that do not contain errors.
Defined Names	Display only names defined by you or by Excel, such as a print area.
Table Names	Display only table names.