Microsoft KB Archive/148669

= XL: How to Create a Dynamic Named Range =

PSS ID Number: 148669

Article Last Modified on 5/13/2002

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0c
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows 95 7.0
 * Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 5.0
 * Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications

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This article was previously published under Q148669





SUMMARY
In Microsoft Excel, you may have a named range that needs to be extended to include new information. For example, if you are using a database to which you continually add new information, you may want to use the sample Visual Basic for Applications code included in this article to extend the named range.



MORE INFORMATION
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Partners, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/partner/referral/

For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

The following macro selects the current region and then defines it as the named range "database" (without the quotation marks). If you add data to that current region and run the macro it will then include the data in the named range called database. To be certain that the current region contains only the information that you want to include in the named range, select a cell within the region, and press the CTRL+* keys.

To create a dynamic named range
 In Microsoft Excel 97, press ALT+F11 to activate the Visual Basic Editor. On the Insert menu, click Module.

In Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0, on the Insert menu, point to Macro and click Module.  Type the following code into the module sheet: Sub DynamicNamedRange

Dim DefinedName As String

DefinedName = "database"

' Selects the current region based on the current defined name. Range(DefinedName).CurrentRegion.Select

' Names the selected region. Names.Add Name:=DefinedName, RefersToR1C1:=Selection

End Sub

 Use the mouse to highlight the named range. On the Insert menu, click Name, and then point to Define. In the Define Name dialog box, type the name database.

NOTE: You can use any defined name, but it is important that you change the name assigned to DefinedName variable in the macro included below. Run the macro you created in step 2.</li></ol>

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