To define a range name, select either a cell or cell range, and choose Insert->Name from the menu bar. From the list of options, choose Define.

 

 

This will display the define name dialogue box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will see the reference to the cell or range you selected in the bottom text field. This is the reference that will be associated with the name you choose. If you already have names defined in this workbook they will appear in the large center text area. You can add a name to this area or delete a name from it. To name your range, type a name in the top text field and click OK.

Another way to name a cell or range is to select it, and then type the name in the name box on the formula bar, and press Enter.

 

 

 

 

Excel will not accept spaces between words in the names you choose. For example, Totalprofit or TotalProfit would be acceptable, but Total Profit would not.

 

Once you have defined your named ranges, you can use them in formulas and functions just as you would a regular cell or range reference.

 

As an example, if you named a range of sales figures Sales, and you named a range of expense figures as Expenses, you could calculate the total sales or total expenses by entering the function =SUM(Sales) or =SUM(Expenses) respectively.

 

 

Notice the function =SUM (Sales) in the formula bar. This will produce the same result as =SUM (B2:B17).

 

Using names for ranges and cells in this way makes your formulas and functions much clearer. When you want to enter a range in a formula or function, it is much easier to remember and type the name of the range, rather than specific cell references.

 

= (TotalSales-TotalExpenses) is a more meaningful formula than = (E2-F2)

 

=AVERAGE(Height) is more meaningful than =AVERAGE(B2:B100)