Microsoft Knowledge Base

Excel: Some Names Are Reserved, Can't Be Used as Defined Names
Last reviewed: March 27, 1997
Article ID: Q111393
1.x 2.x 3.00 4.00 5.00 | 2.x 3.00 4.00 4.00a 5.00 7.00 | 2.20 2.21 3.00 
MACINTOSH              | WINDOWS                       | OS/2
kbusage

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.x, 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 2.2, 3.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, some names are reserved and cannot be used for defined names. These names include the following:

  • Names that could be confused with a cell reference
  • Names that begin with a number
  • Names that Microsoft Excel recognizes as having a particular purpose (such as "Database")
  • Names that are reserved for built-in functions or macros

MORE INFORMATION:

Some specific examples of names that cannot be used for defined names are listed below.

The characters C and R are reserved for use in R1C1 notation, therefore the following cannot be used for defined names: 

   C
   R
   RC
   R1C1
NOTE: The characters C and R are reserved for use in R1C1 notation. In international versions, the characters R and C would be replaced by the first letter in the words Row and Column in whatever language is being used.

In addition, you cannot use names that could be confused with cell references or that begin with numbers, as in the following examples: 

   A1
   AB2
   DF24
   1A
   22Name
Names on a sheet that are recognized automatically as having a particular purpose, such as Auto_Open, Auto_Close, Auto_Activate, Auto_Deactivate, Print_Area, Print_Titles, Database, Criteria, Extract, Data_Form, Consolidate_Area, Recorder, as well as the worksheet functions and macro commands.

Although Microsoft Excel accepts function macro names with the same name as built-in functions or macro commands, if you attempt to use these names you will receive the following error message when you attempt to enter the function in a cell: 

   Error In Formula
NOTE: This problem will not occur if the built-in function is part of an add-in macro is not open for the current session of Microsoft Excel.

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.50 2.00 2.01
2.10 2.20 2.21 3.00 4.00 5.00 7.00 error
Keywords : kbusage
Version : 1.x 2.x 3.00 4.00 5.00 | 2.x 3.0
Platform : MACINTOSH OS/2 WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: March 27, 1997
©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.