What is a name box in Excel?

The name box in Microsoft Excel specifies a name for a single cell or a table. The name box is present in the top left corner, left to the formula box. For every cell in the excel sheet, a default name is given by row number and column alphabet. For example, the name in the name box is “B3”. Here B3 is an active class in the below picture.

Where is the Name Box in Excel?

The name box is in the Excel sheet's top left corner. This name box is present to the left of the formula box.

Uses of Name Box in Excel

The name box has many uses in the Excel sheet other than specifying the active cell address. Now let us discuss the name box uses.

1. We can go to a specific cell with a single name.

When dealing with large data sets, it becomes difficult to locate and arrive at the required cell as it may consume much time to search by scrolling down the entire sheet. The steps for locating the cell are as follows:

Step 1: Click on the Name Box.

Step 2: Write the address of the cell.

Step 3: Hold down the enter key on the keyboard.

2. Selecting multiple cells at a time

We can select multiple cells using the shortcut “Shift + Ctrl+ Right arrow," which selects all the cells in a row until it finds an empty cell.

The shortcut "Shift + Ctrl + Down arrow” selects all the cells in a column until

an empty cell.

Therefore, when we find the empty cells in a sheet, we cannot select the required cells using the above formulae. Then we have to use the cell address range to select the required number of cells in a sheet.

For example, in the below sheet, in the name box, the cell address range "A1:F4" is typed, and "Enter" is pressed, which selects the specified range of cells.

3. Selecting the range of cells from Active Cell

If the active cell is A2, the user wants to select the cells ranging from A2 to D4. Then, rather than "A2:D4" in the name box from the active cell, mention the last address selected in the name box.

Then press the "Shift + Enter” keys on the keyboard.

4. Selecting any two cells

In the above situation, we have selected a range of cells from the active cell. Now, select the two cells we mentioned in the name box by pressing the "Ctrl + Enter" keys instead of Shift + Enter.

For example, the above active cell is A2, and the mentioned cell is D4.

Therefore, it selects A2 and D4 cells by pressing the Ctrl+ Enter keys.

5. Selecting Multiple Range of Cells

We have now discussed the selection of cells from active and individual cells. So, let us see how to select the range of cells.

In the above data, we have two data ranges which consist of A1 to D4 and

other is from F1 to G4. To select these two ranges from the data,

follow the given steps.

Step 1: Type the two data ranges in the “name box” separated by a comma in

between, as shown in the below picture.

Step 2: Now press “Ctrl + Enter” or “Enter" to select the required range of

multiple cells.

6. For selecting the entire column

By using the name box also, we can select the entire range of cells in a column. For this, we must type the address of the column as "column: column" syntax. And press enter key on the keyboard.

Example: If the user desires to select the entire D column, then enter "D:D" as the column address.

7. Selecting the whole row

To select the entire row in an excel sheet, type the address of that row in the name box.

The syntax is "row: row". Press enter key on the keyboard.

For example, if in the name box, the address is “4:4”.

8. Count formula with the name box

Suppose we require the total count of students from the student’s table in the excel sheet. Then use the range name in the count formula, which we type in the formula box. In the formula, also by typing only some characters of the range name, the name is displayed by itself, as in the below figure.

9. Sum with Name Box

The users can do the sum by using the name box, like above, and type the range's name in the SUM formula in the formula box.

Note: When we select multiple cells or the entire row or column, the name box also shows the rows and columns selected at the moment. But the next moment, when we release the cursor and press anywhere outside the name box, the leftmost top cell from the range is selected.

Some points that the user should follow for the Name Box in Excel

• The spaces should be somewhere other than the range's name that we input in the Name Box.
• The name should be something other than punctuation.
• The name in the excel sheet is case insensitive by default, which means that if we give "bag" or "BAG," it is the same.
• The name can start only with an alphabet, backslash("\"), or an underscore("_"). It will give an error if other characters are used at the start of the name.
• The name must be unrepeatable(unique) because excel will not allow duplicate names.
• The name can also be a single character, like a single alphabet. For example, "z" is also considered as the name.