Excel 2003 VBA Programmer's Reference

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Using Names

One of the most useful features in Excel is the ability to create names. You can create a name using the Insert Name Define…dialog box. If the name refers to a range, you can create it by selecting the range, typing the name into the Name box at the left-hand side of the Formula Bar and pressing Enter. However, in Excel, names can refer to more than just ranges.

A name can contain a number, text, or a formula. Such a name has no visible location on the worksheet and can only be viewed in the Insert Name Define…dialog box. Therefore, you can use names to store information in a workbook without having to place the data in a worksheet cell. Names can be declared hidden so that they don't appear in the Insert Name Define…dialog box. This can be a useful way to keep the stored information unseen by users.

The normal use of names is to keep track of worksheet ranges. This is ...