Spreadsheet skills: naming names

October 2011
Whats in a name? This months article considers the pros and cons of using names in
Excel. By Liam Bastick, director with SumProduct Pty Ltd.
You can download this article[1] asa PDF (191KB).
Query
I am in two minds whether I should be using range names in my Excel spreadsheets. Any
advice?
Advice
If you were to ask modelling professionals about the merits of using range names you will
nd that opinion is strongly divided.
Used appropriately and sparingly, great value can be obtained from using range names in
spreadsheets, as it can make formulae easier to read. In macros (not discussed here), they are
vital. Overuse, on the other hand, can lead to end user confusion.
Creating range names
Range names are created using De ne Name in Excel 2003 and earlier, and Name Manager
in Excel 2007 and later. The name box (circled, below), drop down menus and/or ribbon may
be used, or keyboard shortcuts such as ALT + I + N + D (Excel 2003 and earlier), or ALT + I + N
+ D + N or ALT + M + N (Excel 2007 and later).
Name Box

However, I would suggest a different approach. Simply use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + F3
in all versions of Excel, and then if using Excel 2007 or later, click on the New button in the
Name Manager dialog box, viz.

De ne Name (Excel 2003 and earlier)

Name Manager (Excel 2007 and later)

In Excel 2007 and later versions, after clicking on New (above), the following dialog box
appears:
New Name dialog box (Excel 2007 and later)

Scope
Note the highlighted section (scope). All names have a scope, either to a speci c worksheet
(also called the local worksheet level) or to the entire workbook (also called the global
workbook level). The scope of a name is the location within which the name is recognised
without quali cation.
For example, if you have de ned a range name as Pro t with its scope as Sheet1 rather than
Workbook, then only in Sheet1 will it be recognised as Pro t without quali cation.
To use this local name in another worksheet, you must qualify it by preceding it with the
localised worksheet name:
=Sheet1!Pro t
If you have de ned a name, such as cash ow, and its scope is the workbook, that name is
recognised for all worksheets in that workbook (but not for any other workbook).
A name must always be unique within its scope. Excel prevents you from de ning a name
that is not unique within its scope. However, you can use the same name in different scopes.
For example, you can de ne a name, such as Pro t, that is scoped to Sheet1, Sheet2, and
Sheet3 in the same workbook.
Although each name is the same, each name is unique within its scope. For example, you
might do this to ensure that a formula that uses the name GrossPro t is always referencing
the same cells at the local worksheet level.
You can even de ne the same name, Pro t for the global workbook level, but again this
scope is unique. In this case, there may be a name con ict. To resolve this con ict, Excel uses
the name that is de ned for the worksheet by default.
The local worksheet level takes precedence over the global workbook level. This can be
circumvented by adding the following pre x to the name, renaming it WorkbookFile!Pro t.
It is possible to override the local worksheet level for all worksheets in the workbook, except

the rst worksheet. This will always use the local name if there is a name con ict and cannot
be overridden.
In Excel 2003 and earlier, this scope functionality is not visible explicitly. All names created
are assumed to be global by default, until the same name is used on a second worksheet.
Care with names
The Name string must begin with a text or underscore character. Remaining characters in the
name can be letters, numbers, full stops, and underscore characters. Spaces are not allowed
but two words can be joined with an underscore (_) or full stop (.). For example, to enter the
name Cash Flow you should enter Cash_Flow or Cash.Flow.
You cannot use a name that could otherwise be confused as a cell reference, such as A1, as
this is already a cell reference.
There is no limit on the number of names you can de ne, but a name may only contain up to
255 characters. Names can contain upper and lowercase letters.
Note that Excel does not distinguish between uppercase and lowercase characters in names.
For example, if you have created the global name Pro t and then create another global
name called PROFIT in the same workbook, the second name will replace the rst.
It is not a syntax issue, but I strongly recommend thought is given to adding pre xes to
range names. Regular readers will note that my list range names always begin with LU_
where LU stands for Look Up. Similarly, I use BC_ for Base Cell when working with the
OFFSET function (see April 2009s article[2] for further details).
By using these pre xes, I understand the purpose of the range name, so that names with a
common purpose are grouped together in a list. This is not to say all range names should
contain a pre x. Tax_Rate, for instance, makes sense on its own and adding a pre x would
only detract from the name given, potentially confusing the end user.
Creating range names quickly
There is a nifty shortcut for creating range names using existing names. Consider the
following list:
Example list in Excel

Imagine you were to highlight cells N12:N18 in the above example and then use the shortcut
CTRL + SHIFT + F3:
Create Names dialog box

With the rst box (Top row) checked, by clicking on OK the range N13:N18 (not N12:N18)
will be named Phonetic_Alphabet (the underscore will be added automatically). Ranges
across rows can also be named in seconds using the box Left column.
The reason this dialog box uses check boxes (rather than option buttons) is to allow users to
select more than one at a time. For example:
Example data table in Excel

Create Names dialog box

Highlighting N31:R34 and using the keyboard shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + F3 once more should
generate the Create Names dialog box as above with both Top row and Left column
checked.
This means that O32:O34 will be called Jan, O33:R33 will be called COGS and so on. This
would take considerably longer to perform manually.
This example also illustrates why spaces are illegal characters in range names (and should

not be added to formulae either). Space is the intersect operator in Excel. If you were to type
the formula:
=Gross_Margin Feb,
Excel would return the value in cell P34 (the intersection of the two ranges, above), i.e.
USD4183. This can be a powerful analytical tool for key outputs.
Using range names quickly
One of the reasons I like using the CTRL + F3 shortcut is that it is part of the F3 Names
family of shortcuts. We have just seen how CTRL + SHIFT + F3 can be useful and so can F3
on its own.
Perhaps superseded by the fact that in Excel 2007 and later versions Excel will now prompt as
you type formulae, F3 has been very useful in the past as the Paste Names shortcut. For
example, as you type a formula you can refer to a range name by simply typing F3 to get the
Paste Names dialog box, viz.
Paste Names dialog box

Selecting one of the cells and clicking OK inserts the range name.
However, look closer at the dialog box. The Paste List button in the bottom left hand corner,
if pressed, will paste the list and their de nitions into a pre-selected range of cells in an
Excel worksheet. This can be invaluable for model auditing purposes.
Sometimes, formulae have been written before the range name was created. In some
circumstances, it is possible to apply these names retrospectively using Insert -> Names ->
Apply in Excel 2003 and earlier and using Apply Names within the De ned Names group of
the Formulas tab in Excel 2007 and later, viz.
Apply Names, Excel 2007 and later

Note that the keyboard shortcut ALT + I + N + A will work in all versions of Excel. Selecting
the required range names in the resulting dialog box will see formulae on the active
worksheet(s) updated accordingly.
Apply Names dialog box

Deleting range names

If I got paid just USD1 for every time I have been asked how to delete range names I would
probably have retired by now. This was chie y attributable to the counterintuitive menu in
Excel 2003 and earlier versions:
Insert -> Name -> De ne

From the resulting dialog box, you would then select the range name (unfortunately, only
one at a time could be selected) and hit Delete, viz.
Deleting in Excel 2003 and earlier versions

Excel 2007 and later makes this much simpler. In this case, users are more likely to go to the
Name Manager rather than the confusing Insert drop down menu.
Deleting in Excel 2007 and later versions

The other marked improvement is that multiple names may be deleted simultaneously by
using the CTRL or SHIFT buttons to make multiple selections before hitting the Delete
button.

Relative referencing
By default, range names are referenced absolutely (as they contain the dollar sign so that
references remain static).
However, imagine a scenario where you are modelling revenue and you wish to grow the
prior period value by in ation (already given a range name, say cell C3 on Sheet1). Simply
click on any cell (for example, I will use D17 arbitrarily), then de ne the new range name as
follows:
De ning the Prior_Period

Note the Refers to: entry. Cell C17 (the cell to the left of D17) has been chosen without the
dollar signs. This is a relative reference. Once we click on OK, the range name Prior_Period
will be de ned as the cell immediately to the left of the active cell.
We can then in ate values easily by copying the formula
=Prior_Period*(1+In ation)
across the row.
Other types of names
Most of us use the terms names and range names synonymously. However, this is not
strictly appropriate. We can create names referring to formulae as we did in August 2011s
article[3].
De ning the Prior_Period

Back in April 2009[4], the associated Excel le provided an example of how to create dynamic
range names which vary in size depending upon the number of non-blank items to be
considered.
Names may also refer to functions, dates and constants. The latter can be useful (such as
Months_in_Year de ned as 12) in order to avoid inserting hard code into a formula.
And nally
This article discusses just the tip of the names iceberg. Experimenting can pay big dividends.
The aim is not to go overboard, however. A preponderance of names in a work book may
actually make formulae and hence your model more dif cult to follow.
Be careful if you name ranges that are then deleted. The range names will not be deleted
(even though they will no longer appear in the Name Box). They will need to be deleted as
described above in order to prevent potential errors.
If you have a query for the spreadsheet skills section, please feel free to drop Liam a line at
liam.bastick@sumproduct.com[5] or visit the SumProduct website[6].
Links
Excel extras: using PowerPivot for BI projects[7]
Excel and Access user group[8]
CIMA professional development[9]
CIMA on demand[10]
Spreadsheet skills for forecasting, planning, budgeting[11]

Links
1. http://www.cimaglobal.com/Documents/Insightdocs/October2011/Spreadsheet-skillsoctober-2011.pdf

2. http://www.cimaglobal.com/Thought-leadership/Newsletters/Insight-emagazine/Insight-2009/Insight-April-2009/Spreadsheet-skills-better-scenario-analysiswith-OFFSET/
3. http://www.cimaglobal.com/Thought-leadership/Newsletters/Insight-emagazine/Insight-2011/Insight-August-2011/Spreadsheet-skills-let-your-date-leave-amark-/
4. http://www.cimaglobal.com/Thought-leadership/Newsletters/Insight-emagazine/Insight-2009/Insight-April-2009/Spreadsheet-skills-better-scenario-analysiswith-OFFSET/
5. mailto:liam.bastick@sumproduct.com
6. http://www.sumproduct.com/
7. http://www.cimaglobal.com/Thought-leadership/Newsletters/Insight-emagazine/Insight-2011/Insight-October-2011/Excel-extras-using-PowerPivot-for-BIprojects/
8. https://community.cimaglobal.com/groups/content/excel-and-access-user-group
9. http://www.cimaglobal.com/Members/CPD/
10. http://www.cimaondemand.com/
11. http://www.cimaglobal.com/Events-and-cpdcourses/Events/Mastercourses/Management-Accounting/Spreadsheet-skills-forforecasting-planning-and-budgeting--/

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