Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 29, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Besides allowing you to define a name that refers to a cell or cell range, Excel allows you to define names that refer to formulas or constant values. For instance, suppose you have a constant you will be using in your worksheet quite a bit--the standard commission rate for staff sales people, which is 8.5%. To define a name for this constant, follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Define Name dialog box.
The constant is now available for use in your worksheet. You can then use it in formulas just as you would any other defined name.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2659) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
Excel is usually more flexible in what you can reference in formulas than is immediately apparent. This tip examines some ...
Discover MoreExcel is very good at counting things, even when those things need to meet specific criteria. This tip shows how you can ...
Discover MoreIn mathematics, the sum of a range of sequential integers, starting with 1, is known as a triangular number or Gaussian ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments