Steps: Use Named Ranges

Named Ranges

To link a table from

OfficeConnect

for Excel to

OfficeConnect

for Word, you need to define the table as a named range.

A named range
is a user-defined area of cells, rows, or columns in an Excel file. With a named range, you can perform operations on that area as a whole. One powerful use is the ability to jump quickly to the named range from wherever else you are in the workbook. Another use, which you'll work with in this section, is that you can select and insert a named range from

OfficeConnect

for Excel into your

OfficeConnect

for Word document to create links between the two.

You can move or change data, and even add or delete rows or columns within the named range, and the named range maintains its integrity as a single object. When you make any change to the named range in Excel, the change is reflected in PowerPoint as soon as you refresh the presentation.

When you use

OfficeConnect

with Microsoft Word, you are creating a conduit of easily updatable data originating in your instance, being formatted in your

OfficeConnect

for Excel workbook, and ending with linked data in an

OfficeConnect

for Word document.

The process for linking a table or other data from

OfficeConnect

for Excel to

OfficeConnect

for Word always starts with defining a named range of one or more Excel cells that includes the data you want to link. These named ranges make it possible to link information between the two applications. In fact, you can't even connect the two files unless the Excel file has at least one named range.

Search for Named Ranges in Excel online help for more information.

Create a Named Range

Use one of two methods to create a named range:

Select an area on the grid

Use the Define Name command

To create a named range by selecting an area:

Select the area you want to include in the range such as set of cells, rows, or columns.

Click in the Name Box
menu so that the current contents are selected.

Enter the name you want for this named range, and then press Enter. The named range is created. To see the named ranges in any sheet in this workbook, you can click the Name Box menu. Select a named range in the menu to goes to its location in the grid.

You can also create a named range by using the Define Name command.

To create a named range by using the Define Name command:

Select the area you want to include in the named range such as set of cells, rows, or columns.

Select the

Formulas

tab in the ribbon.

From the

Defined Names

group, select Define Name
.

Enter the name you want for this named range.

In Scope
, specify whether this named range is available from a particular worksheet in the workbook, or to the whole workbook.

In Comment
, add a note if necessary.

In Refers to
, verify the code reflects the area you selected for this range. Make any corrections as needed, either by selecting in the grid or by changing the code.

Click OK
. The named range is created as you specified. You can see the named range in the

Name Box

menu.

Change a Named Range

You can change a named range to add or remove columns or rows. The named range adjusts automatically.

Use the Name Manager to:

Change the scope of a name range.

Change the name of the named range.

Delete a named range.

To change or delete a named range:

Select the

Formulas

tab in the ribbon.

From the

Defined Names

group, select Name Manager
. The Name Manager dialog appears, listing all named ranges in the workbook.

Select the named range you want to change, and then click Edit.
To delete a named range, click Delete.

Change the name of the named range.

In Comment
, add or change a note about the named range.

In
Refers to
, change the area for this named range. When you click in the field, the range appears in the grid. Make your changes by either selecting in the grid or by changing the code.

Click OK
.

Click Close
in the Name Manager dialog box. The named range is modified as you specified.