Name Manager: Range names made easy

For Microsoft^® Excel^®

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: 365 (both 32 and 64 bit versions), 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2007

As of now, also Mac compatible!

Name Manager for most Excel versions V4.5 (Build 704, Sep 5, 2023, downloaded: 123.619 times)

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: 127.950 times)

Mac version

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: 11.526 times) is still available. Note that unfortunately this version of NM is NOT compatible with Office 2016 for Mac.

Solving Compile errors related to Name Manager

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:)

Removed 240 character limitation from the Edit RefersTo box
Fixed a bug regarding filtering for system names
Hid private functions from macro dialog
Fixed an issue pertaining to renaming and using the pickup function for users using an international keyboard
Fixed a small bug in the Reset button's code
Name Manager now works together with Charles Williams Lambda Explorer if you've got that installed
Fixed a bug regarding listing all names on a protected workbook
Added a workaround for a rare dll error some users get
Moved settings to a separate dialog
Slightly improved performance
Small bugfix
When searching for unused names, filtered chart series are now included
The VBE Name toolbar now remembers its position
Filter names containing Lambda functions

Features:

Sorting of names and refersto formulas
Functionality to edit names that refer to large multiple areas.
Add name dialog
Shortcut key (default control-shift-n) to start Name Manager
Choice between icons on commandbuttons or text labels (see Screenshot).
Rename a name. Name Manager includes a rename option, which will enable you to change the name of a name and have all objects that use that name update too. (this includes VBA)
Show where a name is in use:

The Where is a name used dialog of Name Manager

International version, screens and messages in national languages:
- English
- Danish
- German
- French
- Dutch
- Brazilian Portuguese
- Swedish
- Finnish
- Spanish
- Italian
- Russian
- And others...
Analyse Command, allows partial evaluation of names etc.
Many different filter options
Options listbox shows options for:
- Confirm Changes
- R1C1 Notation
- GoTo Selected Names
- Show RefersTo
- Show Excel System Names
- Sort Names (sort local names together by sheet)
Highlight named Ranges
Clear Highlights
Form can be resized, including minimise/maximise buttons and moving of splits

Instructions

Download the zip file by clicking the link above that says "NameManager.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 1143 in total (Show All Comments):

Comment by: Marc Morin (20-8-2023 15:48:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi There,

Great great tool -- i've been building a retirement planner accounting for multiple complex variables and calculations (different rates of retirement spends, rates of return leading up to and post retirement, varying tax rates -- ugh, different retirement ages and health patterns, etc)

One glitch i'm not sure of is: when im editing long formulas -- in excess of 256 characters -- the edit box truncates most of the formula -- i have to revert to the regular Excel Namage Manager to complete those edits -- i usually copy/paste into Notepad++ then edit (so ican see the entirety of the formula), the paste it into Excel NM.

Any ideas what im doing wrong? Thanks

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (21-8-2023 10:09:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Marc,

Yes I'm afraid that is an existing limitation which we perhaps should remove.

Comment by: Marc (18-9-2023 21:08:00) deeplink to this comment

Thanks so much Jan for that fix -- i just loaded the new version and it works flawlessly

Thanks so very much for taking the time to change this -- it is greatly appreciated and the app is sooooo much better than MS's native Name Manager which is a pain to work with.

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (18-9-2023 21:42:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Marc,
You're welcome and thanks for the compliments!

Comment by: Dominik (19-9-2023 11:43:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi all,

Great tool, I like it.

Unfortunately, the Name manager group isn't displayed on the excel ribbons, anymore. (Tried to uninstall and install again - no effect)

I'm afraid, I'm not allowed to add groups to the built-in ribbons, at all. (former versions of Name Manager worked)

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (19-9-2023 11:50:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Dominik,
Does the short-cut key (control+shift+n) work to open NM?

If you go into Excel Options and check the box to show add-in user interface errors, do you get any errors?

Comment by: Dominik (19-9-2023 13:08:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Jan,

Just tried uninstalling/installing again - now it works, as it should.

Thanks for answering fast.

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (19-9-2023 13:18:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Dominik,

Outstanding!

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