Microsoft Knowledge Base

XL4: Defined Names Fail to Appear in the Go To Dialog Box
Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
Article ID: Q148610
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 4.0, 4.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Excel version 4.0, if you click Go To on the Formula menu, defined names may fail to appear in the Go To dialog box. This problem may occur if you save the file from Microsoft Excel version 5.0 or later, and if the defined name refers to a noncontiguous range.

CAUSE

In Microsoft Excel 5.0 or later, when you save a file, the name of the sheet tab is included with the reference to defined names. This happens even if you save the file as a Microsoft Excel 4.0 Worksheet and it causes the symptoms described above.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem in Microsoft Excel version 4.0, delete the name of the sheet tab from the reference. Then, the defined name will appear in the Go To dialog box.

To correct the references, do the following steps:

  1. Open the file in Microsoft Excel version 4.0.

  2. On the Formula menu, click Define Name.

  3. Click the defined name that does not appear in the Go To dialog box.

  4. Delete the sheet name from the Refers To box.

    For example, if the Refers To box has this reference 

          =Sheet1.xls!$A$1:$A$5,Sheet1.xls!$C$1:$C$5

    change it to the following: 

          =$A$1:$A$5,$C$1:$C$5

NOTE: You need to repeat these steps each time you save the file from Microsoft Excel version 5.0 or later, and you then reopen it in Microsoft Excel version 4.0.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

When you open a Microsoft Excel 4.0 worksheet in Microsoft Excel version 5.0, the name of the sheet tab becomes the same name as the file.

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 4.00 4.00a discontiguous nonadjacent
discontinuous




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Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.