Naming spreadsheet cells

You can assign names (such as "Expenses" or "Fees") to a single cell or a cell range. You can use cell names to
reference cells in formulas
select the named cells quickly
help you remember the purpose of the data in those cells

When you're working with named cells, you use the commands in the name pop-up menu, located to the left of the entry bar.

Name pop-up menu

Cell names must conform to these rules:
You can't use the same cell name more than once in the same spreadsheet.
The first character must be a letter.
The name can't contain operators (such as + or -) or punctuation marks.
The name can't resemble a cell reference (such as A8) or an AppleWorks function (such as SUM).

Assigning names to cells

To name a cell or cell range:
1 Select the cells you want to name.
2 Choose Define Name from the name pop-up menu.

To use row or column titles as cell names:
1 Select a range of cells that includes at least one row or column where you've typed a descriptive title.
2 Choose Auto Name from the name pop-up menu.
AppleWorks derives names from data in the top row and left column of the selection.
3 Deselect any items you don't want to use as cell range names.

Editing cell names

To edit existing cell names in a spreadsheet:
Choose Edit Names from the name pop-up menu.

Using cell names in formulas

To use cell names in a formula:
1 Assign a name to a cell or cell range.
2 Type the formula, using cell names in place of cell addresses.
Tip: You can choose the name from the name pop-up menu.

If you see #NAME! in the cell:
You've used a name that is not defined. To quickly define the name, select the cells that correspond to the name. Then choose Define Name from the name pop-up menu, and choose the name you specified from the pop-up menu to the right of the Name box. (You see the pop-up menu only if there are undefined cell names.)

Switching between cell names and cell references

When you use named cells in a spreadsheet, you can switch between cell names and cell references (addresses) in formulas.

To switch between cell names and cell references in a formula:
1 Select the cells containing formulas you want to switch.
2 Choose a command from the name pop-up menu:
To switch from cell names to cell references, choose Replace Names.
To switch from cell references to cell names, choose Replace References.
3 Deselect any items you don't want to switch.

Related topics

  Working with spreadsheet cells, rows, and columns
Using formulas and functions in a spreadsheet
About functions

 
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