Create Range Name in Excel

Today I am sharing quickest way to create Range Name in Excel. Just 3 easy steps

1. Select the cell(s) you want to name
2. Type Range name in the name box
3. Press Enter

The following is a list of syntax rules that you need to be aware of when you create and edit names.

Valid characters The first character of a name must be a letter, an underscore character (_), or a backslash (\). Remaining characters in the name can be letters, numbers, periods, and underscore characters.

Cell references disallowed Names cannot be the same as a cell reference, such as Z$100 or R1C1. Spaces are not valid Spaces are not allowed as part of a name. Use the underscore character (_) and period (.) as word separators, such as, Sales_Tax or First.Quarter.

Name length A name can contain up to 255 characters.

Case sensitivity Names can contain uppercase and lowercase letters. Excel does not distinguish between uppercase and lowercase characters in names. For example, if you created the name Sales and then create another name called SALES in the same workbook, Excel prompts you to choose a unique name

Check out screen cast below to see it happening.

Named ranges is part of defined names in excel. It is just not limited to a cell on the worksheet or range of cells, it can also be a constant or a formula in your workbook.

It has many uses in Excel, some of them are :-

1. Make your formulas much easier to understand.
2. Refer to dynamic ranges in excel by creating dynamic range names
3. Can be used in data validation based on contents on another worksheet
4. Can be used for conditional formatting based on contents on another worksheet.
5. These are best used in Excel Macros. It makes your macros more robust
6. Use them as constant value without referring to contents on your worksheet.

Will be covering some of the topics in my upcoming posts, so stay tuned to learn more uses of defined names in excel.

Add Spin Buttons Active X Excel

In my previous posts I have shared EMI Calculator with you. This was mode using Excel PMT function and Spin Buttons ActiveX Controls in Excel. In this post I am sharing how to add spin buttons ActiveX controls to excel worksheet.



Step 1 Have Developer Tab visible in your Excel 2007. In case you already have it proceed to step 2
Step 2 Click on Insert under controls group
Step 3 Click on Spin Buttons under ActiveX Controls
Step 4 Draw Spin Button on your worksheet.
Step 5 Rename the Spin Button Object
Step 6 Add VBA code to the Spin Button

Checkout Screen Cast Below

In this screen cast we have added spin button next to loan amount and renamed the spin button object as Loan

Similarly add two more spin buttons next to Interest Rate and Years. Rename them as Interest and Years respectively.

To make these buttons work we need to add VBA code. Separate macros are required for each button that is why we have renamed the spin buttons. It is to give them a name that can be related later on by us when we look at the macro code. Macro code will be using the names we have given to them

Now to add the VBA code , double click on the spin button object, it will open VBA editor. Copy following VBA code to worksheet module

Private Sub Loan_SpinDown() With Range("C4") .Value = WorksheetFunction.Max(100000, .Value - 100000) End With End Sub Private Sub Loan_SpinUp() With Range("C4") .Value = WorksheetFunction.Min(10000000, .Value + 100000) End With End Sub Private Sub Interest_SpinDown() With Range("C5") .Value = WorksheetFunction.Max(0.03, .Value - 0.0025) End With End Sub Private Sub Interest_SpinUp() With Range("C5") .Value = WorksheetFunction.Min(0.25, .Value + 0.0025) End With End Sub Private Sub Years_SpinDown() With Range("C6") .Value = WorksheetFunction.Max(1, .Value - 1) End With End Sub Private Sub Years_SpinUp() With Range("C6") .Value = WorksheetFunction.Min(25, .Value + 1) End With End Sub

With this your EMI Calculator with Spin Buttons ActiveX Controls is ready

Visit EMI Calculator page if you want to download excel file complete with macros and Spin Buttons Activex controls

Show Developer Tab in Excel 2007 Ribbon

In case you are working with ActiveX Controls or Macros in Excel , you need to have Developers Tab visibile in your Excel 2007. When you start using Excel 2007, developers Tab is not visible , however you can set it visible with following steps



Step 1 - Click MS Office Button
Step 2 - Click Excel Options
Step 3 - Click Populor
Step 4 - Tick Show Developer Tab in the Ribbon check box
Step 5 - Click Ok