Question

Name Range and how these are created and selected?

Answer 1

A Named Range is a user-defined name assigned to a specific cell or a block of cells in an Excel worksheet. Instead of using confusing cell coordinates like B2:B50 in formulas, you can name that block “Sales” and use = SUM(Sales) to make your calculations easier to read and understand.

There are two common methods to create a named range in Excel:

• Method A: Using the Name Box (The Fastest Way)
  • Select the block of cells you want to name.
  • Click inside the Name Box (located on the far left of the formula bar, just above column A).
  • Type your desired name (e.g., NetProfit) and press [Enter].
• Method B: Using the Define Name Option
  • Select the range of cells on your worksheet.
  • Go to the Formulas tab on the Ribbon toolbar.
  • Click on Define Name in the Defined Names group.
  • Type the name in the pop-up box and click OK. 

Once a named range is created, you can quickly jump to it and select it using these steps:

• Using the Name Box Dropdown: Click the tiny down-arrow next to the Name Box on the left of the formula bar, then click on your saved name. Excel will instantly jump to and highlight that entire block of cells.
• Using the Go To Command: Press the [F5] key or [Ctrl] + [G] to open the Go To dialogue box, select your named range from the listed options, and click OK.