Microsoft KB Archive/156603

= XL97: Microsoft Excel Inserts a Defined Name in Formula =

Article ID: 156603

Article Last Modified on 10/21/2000

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q156603



SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel 97, if you type a formula and click a cell in order to add the cell address to the formula, a defined name may appear in the formula instead of the address of the cell you clicked.



CAUSE
This behavior may occur if the cell you click is a cell that is referenced by a defined name. In this case, Microsoft Excel 97 inserts the valid defined name.



WORKAROUND
To work around this behavior, manually type the cell address in the formula. For example, if you want to type a formula in cell B1, instead of typing an equal sign (=) and clicking cell A1, type =A1, and then press ENTER.

It is not possible to prevent Microsoft Excel 97 from inserting the defined name if you click a cell that is referenced by a defined name.



MORE INFORMATION
In earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, if you click a cell while typing a formula, the relative address of the cell appears in the formula. This is true even if the cell you click is referred by one or more defined names.

Microsoft Excel 97 behaves differently. If you click a cell while typing a formula, the relative address of the cell appears in the formula unless the cell is referred by a defined name. If the cell is referred by a defined name, the defined name may appear in the formula instead of the cell address.

Example

 * 1) In a new worksheet in Microsoft Excel, type the value 1 in cell A1.

Type the value 2 in cell A2.
 * 1) With cell A1 selected, point to Name on the Insert menu, and then click Define.
 * 2) In the "Names in Workbook" box, type Test and click OK.
 * 3) Select cell C5.
 * 4) Type an equal sign, click cell A1, and then press ENTER.

In Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0, the formula in cell C5 is =A1. In Microsoft Excel 97, the formula in cell C5 is =Test.
 * 1) Select cell C6. Type an equal sign, click cell A2, and then press ENTER.

In Microsoft Excel 5.0, 7.0, and Microsoft Excel 97, the formula in cell C6 is =A2. This is true in Microsoft Excel 97 because no defined name refers to cell A2.

Additional query words: XL97 97 8.0 apply

Keywords: kbualink97 kbprb KB156603

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