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 701, Jan 24, 2023, downloaded: 122.140 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: 127.825 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: 11.465 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:)

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 1125 in total (Show All Comments):

Comment by: Helge Larsen (2-3-2023 16:53:00) deeplink to this comment

If I have no names in my workbook, Name Manager will tell me: "No names in active workbook". Fine!
But if I have a name in my workbook, Name Manager will in 1 ms show its window - and then it disapears! What's wrong?
I am using version 4.6 701.

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (2-3-2023 17:53:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Helge,

Try this please:
1. On any application, press alt+Spacebar. The system menu should open (the menu you get when clicking the top-left corner icon of any Windows application)

2. Note the text of the second entry (Move) and especially, which letter is underlined (M).

3. Now open Excel and open the NM window. Without touching anything else, press Alt+spacebar, followed by the character underlined in step 2.

4. Press any of the arrow keys on your keyboard (up, down, left, or right) ONCE

5. Move your mouse

Comment by: Helge Larsen (2-3-2023 18:07:00) deeplink to this comment

Your suggestion can only be tried on the "No names in active workbook"-window. When the workbook has a name, the 'real' NM window will show VERY shortly and then disappear.
So the error/problem still is there.

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (2-3-2023 20:19:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Helge,

Try it on a workbook with names, it should work

Comment by: Helge Larsen (2-3-2023 20:29:00) deeplink to this comment

I have restarted my PC, started Excel, made a new workbook, defined a Name, and then clicked the NM icon in the ribbon. Then the NM window is very shortly shown and then it disappears.

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (2-3-2023 21:14:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Helge,

Immediately after NM had disappeared, follow the steps I've mentioned above

Comment by: Helge Larsen (2-3-2023 22:03:00) deeplink to this comment

So I have done, and it works!
Thank you very much for you help.

(Now I am just wondering how I got into that unfortunate situation.)

Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (2-3-2023 23:11:00) deeplink to this comment

Hi Helge,

Likely last time you had NM open on a larger screen or on a second screen

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