Subscribe
in a reader
Name Manager: Range names made easy
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 13 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.
Created in collaboration with Charles Williams, www.decisionmodels.com and Matthew Henson (mhenson@mac.com) who ensured the utility works on Mac Excel too. See a screenshot here.
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.
Current version downloads
Name Manager for Excel 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016 V4.3 (Build 671, Jan 24, 2020, downloaded: 106.025 times)
Name Manager for Excel 97, 2000, XP and 2003 V4.3 (Build 655, Dec 13, 2016 Downloaded: 125.444 times)
Tip: Excel 97 users can download Name Manager version 3.2 below if they experience compile errors.
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:
Excel 2003: open Excel and select Help, detect and repair from the menu.
Excel 2007 and up: Open Office Setup from Control Panel, Programs and do a
repair of the Office installation.
After doing so, Name Manager should work as expected.
New in this version (4.3):
- When a name is renamed, PowerQuery M code will be checked for existence of the name in [Name="TheName"] and replaced accordingly
- Name sstarting with _xlfn are now recognized as being Excel system names.
- Solved an issue where Name Manager adversely affects performance in other add-ins
- Names using the new dynamic array references (=D2#) no longer are marked as name with error
- In case of a compile error, Name Manager will automatically turn off its feature to display a toolbar in the VBA editor.
- Improved renaming rangenames in VBA code
- Updated German translations
- Fixed names with structured table references being reported as error names
- The Name Manager's VBA toolbar's visible status is now remembered between sessions.
- Rename also renames in VBA when you use short-hand code like [TheName].
- When you delete a name, Name Manager offers to un-apply the name in your workbook.
- Name Manager goes 64 bit! Name Manager now also supports the 64 bit version of Office 2010.
- Icon & button for Rename
- Icon and Button for GoTo
- Revised Icons
- Double-click a name invokes GoTo rather than Rename
- GoTo has been removed from Options
- Workbook Name shows in NM caption, dynamically refreshes when a different workbook is activated
- Add Name allows you to add a name that refers to a different (open) workbook
- Scroll bar in options removed
- Bug fixed for Highlight a single Name
- GoTo now works for 3D names, Relative Names, Names referring to open external workbooks
- Evaluate works for names referring to open external workbooks
- Minor UI changes
- Fixed issue with larger grid in 2007, 2010 and 2013
- Fixed issue with renaming names in chart series formula
- Fixed bug regarding updating LinkedCell property when renaming names
- Fixed issue with { and } characters in sheetnames
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:
- 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
Old versions
Not sure version 4.3 is stable? Name Manager 3.2 (Downloaded: 11.159 times) is still available!
Mac users, please note : version 3.2 does not work in the Mac environment, due to the use of Windows API calls. For your convenience, Name Manager 2.3 (Downloaded: 10.141 times) is still available. Note that unfortunately NM is NOT compatible with Office 2016 for Mac.
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.
Microsoft and the Office logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Comments
Showing last 8 comments of 972 in total (Show All Comments):Comment by: Romano (29-10-2019 18:30:00)
nothing happens.
Any idea?
In my previous laptop it was working perfectly.
Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (30-10-2019 09:03:00)
Does it help to first click the little Reset button next to the NM button?
Comment by: Julio Mazzarella (25-2-2020 18:22:00)
Does this add-in work well with Excel for Mac Office 365?
Thanks.
Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (26-2-2020 10:43:00)
The current version does not, but there is a an old version which should run on a Mac. ALso, Charles Williams is porting his entire FastExcel suite of tools (which includes an even more elaborate version of Name Manager) to Mac Excel. See http://www.decisionmodels.com/FastExcelV4Manager.htm
Comment by: JB (28-2-2020 08:55:00)
Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (28-2-2020 13:48:00)
I've tried doing precisely that over a decade ago but gave up as the language and object model were too different.
Comment by: Karim Salswach (28-2-2020 22:23:00)
Many years ago, I contacted you asking if there was a way of doing a "batch rename" as I had a model where I needed to change the names (not the range reference, just the range name). You kindly provided the following VBA:
Sub BatchRename()
'Uses functions from JKP's Name Manager addin:
'www.jkp-ads.com/officemarketplacenm-en.asp
'Takes a list of names (selected cells on worksheet in the file).
'Renames those names with the name which is in a column to the immediate right of the selected range
Dim sOldname As String
Dim sNewName As String
Dim oCell As Range
Dim lRowCount As Long
lRowCount = Selection.Rows.Count
Application.Run "'" & Workbooks("Name Manager 2007.xlam").FullName & "'!InitNameManager"
For Each oCell In Selection.Cells
'ActiveSheet.UsedRange.Columns(1).SpecialCells(xlCellTypeVisible)
If oCell.Row > 1 Then
sOldname = oCell.Value
sNewName = oCell.Offset(, 1).Value
Application.StatusBar = sOldname & ", " & sNewName & ", " & Format(oCell.Row / lRowCount, "0%")
If sOldname <> sNewName And sOldname <> "" And sNewName <> "" Then
Application.Run "'" & Workbooks("Name Manager 2007.xlam").FullName & "'!replacename", sOldname, sNewName, True
End If
End If
Next
Application.StatusBar = False
Application.Visible = True
End Sub
I have used that routine many, many times and it has been invaluable! I have used the code again recently, just replacing the old "Name Manager.xla" with the more current "Name Manager 2007.xlam", and it works perfectly fine!
The reason I am writing to you today is because I wonder if the code can be expanded to also modify the cells referenced by the names? (i.e. I would like to change both, the names and the references).
I hope you have a chance to read this note and to let me have your thoughts.
Best regards,
Karim Salswach
Calgary, AB
Canada
Comment by: Jan Karel Pieterse (2-3-2020 10:28:00)
Yes you could use the routine RedefineAName which has two arguments: the name (string) and the formula (string in local format).
YOu could also use the list and pickup buttons for this. CLick List to list all names, edit the list on the new worksheet (just edit the formulas) and then click the pickup button.
Have a question, comment or suggestion? Then please use this form.
If your question is not directly related to this web page, but rather a more general "How do I do this" Excel question, then I advise you to ask your question here: www.eileenslounge.com.