Using The Name Box During Formula Entry (2000 SR-1)

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Usually the “Name Box” (the drop down list of named ranges) is just to the left of the formula bar. When entering a formula, however, this changes to the “Formulas” control (drop down list of formulas). I’d like to be able to select named ranges while entering a formula. I know I can do this from Insert…Names…Paste…Double-Click-on-the-name or by F5…Double-Click-on-the-name, but is there a way to retain the Name Box during formula entry (this could be more convenient than the other alternatives). Can the “Name Box” control be copied/pasted to another toolbar where it won’t morph to something else during formula entry? I haven’t figured out a way to do this.

Thanks.

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I don’t have exactly what you’re looking for, but in my version of Excel (97), I’d just right-click a toolbar & click customize.
Click Insert on the menu bar, click Name… and Ctrl-drag the Paste… item to just above the formula bar. In my setup, I have it sitting just to the left of the Bold icon.

Now your names are only 2 clicks away.

Edited: Since a picture is worth a thousand words….

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That’s close… probably close enough. I did find the “Paste…” command in the customize lists. A little ergonomic analysis suggests this would take a click (to open the names list) and a double-click to select and paste in the desired named range. For the ambidextrous, maybe F5 (to open the names list) and a double-click would be a little quicker. If we could access the Name Box on a toolbar, a click to drop the list and a click to select the name (without too much mouse movement between the two) is all that would be required. Of course, if the list of names is long, there may be be some scrolling required in any of the scenarios.

Are we (Am I) retentive or what???

Thanks.

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The way you want it is the way it used to be in an earlier version of XL, it was so useful MS had to change it.

Actually F3 gives you the Paste Name box, F5 is Go To, but both work.

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