Name Manager: Range names made easy

Content

Description

If you are in need of a utility to manage defined names in your Excel models, this one is a must-have. List all names in your active workbook. Filter them using 14 filters, e.g. "With external references", "With errors", Hidden, Visible. Show just names that contain a substring. Show just names unused in worksheet cells. Edit them in a simple dialog or make a list, edit the list and update all names in one go. Delete, hide, unhide selected names with a single mouse click.

Name Manager
See more screenshots here

Created in collaboration with Charles Williams, www.decisionmodels.com and Matthew Henson (mhenson@mac.com) who ensured the utility works on Mac Excel too.

The Name Manager is freeware, all I'd like to ask you is to tell everyone if you like it and to tell me if you don't.

Download

Current Excel versions

This is the one to download if you are on any of these versions: Microsoft 365 (both Windows and Mac, both 32 and 64 bit), Excel for Windows 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2007.

Name Manager for most Excel versions V4.5 (Build 709, Oct 8, 2024, downloaded: 133.123times)

Verison for old Mac systems

GOOD NEWS! Name Manager also works on Mac Excel (if all is well). Just in case this does not apply to your Mac version: for your convenience Name Manager 2.3 (Downloaded: 12.156 times) is still available. Note that unfortunately this version of NM is NOT compatible with Office 2016 for Mac.

Excel on-line version (and desktop)

If you are using Excel online (or Excel in Teams) a lot, you can also use our office-js verison of Name Manager. It has less functionality, but it is the only tool allowing you to define, manage and edit range names in Excel online! Note that this version also works on desktop Excel, which is convenient if your desktop is locked down.

Very old Excel versions

If you're still using one of the antique versions of Excel (97, 2000, XP and 2003) this is your download: Name Manager for very old Excel versions V4.3 (Build 655, Dec 13, 2016 Downloaded: 128.684times)

Some users get a compile error during load of Name Manager: "Compile Error in hidden module, fxlNameManager".

In such a case, Name Manager will automatically turn off its feature to display a toolbar in the VBA editor.

This error is mostly resolved by running Office Setup from Control Panel, Programs and do a repair of the Office installation.

After doing so, Name Manager should work as expected.

Latest additions (in reverse chronological order):

Features

The Where is a name used dialog of Name Manager

Instructions

Click the link above that says "Name Manager for most Excel versions". This will download a file named "NameManager2007.zip". Unpack the files in the zip file to a folder of your liking and open the file called "Setup Name Manager.xls". Press the button in that file to install.

Click here to request support or issue comments or suggestions on this product.

Note to Lambda developers

I highly recommend the Excel Lambda Explorer for Windows and Mac https://www.decisionmodels.com/FastExcelLambdaExplorer.htm

Excel Lambda Explorer is a FREE Excel Addin tool designed to make it easy to explore, understand and debug Excel Lambda Functions. Lambda Explorer and Name Manager work together: clicking the Name Manager Analyse button will prompt for parameter values for the selected Lambda and then launch Lambda Explorer using these values.

This is what the Excel Lambda Explorer looks like:

Decisionmodels.com Lambda Explorer

Feedback from users

From Jeremy (Assistant Controller):

"I just want to say that your Name Manager has saved our company tons of time and think its a great tool. We had files riddled with hidden names that were causing the files to take forever to open. Not sure why excel's native Name Manager doesn't show hidden names, but love your product and will promote it when I can."

Comments

Showing last 8 comments of 1160 in total (Show All Comments):

 

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (16-1-2024 10:06:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi John,

We've tried to make NM recall where you last left its window and act accordingly. Unfortunately that is problematic if your screen setup changes for whatever reason. I'll revisit that reset button, perhaps that will fix it.

Comment by: Benji Berg-einhorn (26-2-2024 23:09:00) deeplink to this comment

Problem Need Help!

Hi! Just found this page and downloaded the Name Manager tool. Absolutely love it! Never used anything it!

The tool was working great for the first hour, and it randomly stopped. Every time i try to open it, nothing happens. So far, I've tried:
- disabling / re-enabling
- Deleting and Re-Downloading
- Restarting my computer

Nothing has worked so far. The tool is properly installed (and unblocked), it seems like it's just that the UI won't open. Please assist!

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (26-2-2024 23:48:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Benji,

Try the reset button on the Formula tab next to the big red N

Comment by: Mohamed GadAllah Basheer (23-4-2024 11:45:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi,

Thanks for the tool.

Please may I suggest renaming the downloaded package by removing the "2007" from its name, because the instructions mention Download the zip file by clicking the link above that says "NameManager.zip".

while the file itself is titled as follows:
NameManager2007.zip

Note: Please, do you have an email list to be notified when any of your tools got updated so I can download the latest version for any of them?

Thanks,
Mohamed

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (23-4-2024 16:13:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Mohamed,

Thanks, I have updated the text, hopefully it is clearer now.

To get notified of updates, you could register for our feed, which is where I usually announce updates:

https://jkp-ads.com/feed.xml

Comment by: Romulus Milea (17-10-2024 07:34:00) deeplink to this comment

Hello Jan Karel,

I have downloaded the 4.5 version of your Name Manager. I think it is a fantastic tool. You put a lot of effort, time and creativity to create it. Thank you for that !

I have installed it today and I have used it for a file where I have 42 names in total, 5 of them are listed into the main interface, the rest of 37 names are _xlfn, and _xlpm types, and they are not visible in the main interface.

I would like to delete all those 37 names. For some reason, those 37 names are not visible in the main Name Manager interface, but I can see them when I use dropdown list of Analyse selected name.

Am I doing something wrong ? As far as I know, those _xlfn and _xlpm names cannot be deleted, but I am not sure.

I use Excel 365 version 2212 (December 2022).

Any advice from you would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
Romulus Milea.

Comment by: Romulus Milea (17-10-2024 07:54:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi again,

I have found a way to make all names visible, including _xlfn, and _xlpm ones. I have used Name Manager settings, and I ticked Show Excel System names. Problem is solved, so please ignore the previous message that I sent.

Have a sunny day ! :-)

Regards,
Romulus Milea.

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (17-10-2024 10:54:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Romulus,

Hahaha, glad you were able to solve your own issue :-)

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