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How to Delete a Defined Name in Excel?

Are you looking for a way to delete a defined name in Excel? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to delete a defined name in Excel, so you can quickly and easily make the necessary changes to your spreadsheet. We’ll also provide some helpful tips and tricks on how to better manage your named ranges in Excel. Let’s get started!

How to Delete a Defined Name in Excel?

Deleting a Defined Name in Excel

When working with Excel spreadsheets, there are many features available to help you organize and manage your data. One of these features is the ability to create defined names, which are used to refer to a cell, range of cells, or formula. Defined names are useful for making formulas easier to read and remember and can help simplify complex calculations. However, there may come a time when you need to delete a defined name. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps of deleting a defined name in Excel.

Using the Name Manager

The best way to delete a defined name in Excel is to use the Name Manager. To access the Name Manager, you can click on the Formulas tab in the ribbon and then click on the Name Manager button. This will open the Name Manager window, which displays all of the defined names in your spreadsheet. To delete a name, simply select the name from the list and click the Delete button.

Editing the Name

If you don’t want to delete the name completely, but rather just change its definition, you can do this by editing the name directly. To do this, select the name from the Name Manager list and then click the Edit button. This will open the Edit Name window, where you can change the definition of the name. When you’re done, click OK to save your changes.

Deleting a Name from the Formula Bar

Another way to delete a defined name is to do it directly from the formula bar. To do this, select the cell that contains the defined name and then delete the name from the formula bar. This will delete the name from the spreadsheet and remove the reference to the defined name.

Deleting a Name from the Cell

You can also delete a defined name from a cell directly. To do this, select the cell that contains the defined name and then delete the name from the cell. This will remove the name from the cell, without changing the contents of the cell.

Using the Go To Command

The last way to delete a defined name is to use the Go To command. To do this, click on the Formulas tab in the ribbon and then click on the Go To button. This will open the Go To window, where you can type in the name of the defined name that you want to delete. When you’ve found the name, click the Delete button to delete the name from the spreadsheet.

Using VBA to Delete a Defined Name

If you’re comfortable with VBA (Visual Basic for Applications), you can use it to delete a defined name. To do this, open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) by clicking on the Developer tab in the ribbon and then clicking on the Visual Basic button. This will open the VBE window, where you can enter the code to delete the defined name.

Deleting a Name with a VBA Macro

The easiest way to delete a defined name with VBA is to create a macro. To do this, open the VBE and then create a new macro. Then, enter the following code into the macro:

Sub DeleteName()
Application.Goto Reference:=”Name_Name”
Application.ActiveCell.Delete
End Sub

This code will delete the defined name with the name “Name_Name”. To delete a different defined name, simply replace “Name_Name” with the name of the defined name that you want to delete.

Deleting a Name with a VBA Function

Alternatively, you can create a VBA function to delete a defined name. To do this, open the VBE and then create a new function. Then, enter the following code into the function:

Function DeleteName(Name As String)
Application.Goto Reference:=Name
Application.ActiveCell.Delete
End Function

This code will delete the defined name with the name that is passed into the function. To use the function, simply call it in your code and pass in the name of the defined name that you want to delete.

Deleting Multiple Names at Once

If you want to delete multiple defined names at once, you can use a VBA loop. To do this, open the VBE and then create a new macro. Then, enter the following code into the macro:

Sub DeleteNames()
Dim Name As String
For Each Name In Range(“Names”)
Application.Goto Reference:=Name
Application.ActiveCell.Delete
Next Name
End Sub

This code will delete all of the names that are listed in the range “Names”. To use this code, simply replace “Names” with the range of names that you want to delete.

Top 6 Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Defined Name?

A Defined Name is an identifier that can be used to refer to a cell, range of cells, constant value, or formula in Excel. It simplifies the process of finding, referencing, and manipulating the data stored in a worksheet by giving a meaningful name to a cell or group of cells.

How to Define a Name in Excel?

To define a name in Excel, select the cell or range of cells that you want to name, then open the Formulas tab in the ribbon. Click the “Define Name” button in the Defined Names group and enter a name in the “Name” field. Finally, click the “OK” button to apply the name.

Why Is It Important to Delete Unused Names in Excel?

It is important to delete unused names in Excel because they can cause unnecessary clutter and confusion when working with large and complex spreadsheets. Additionally, having too many names can slow down the performance of the program.

How to Delete a Defined Name in Excel?

To delete a defined name in Excel, open the Formulas tab in the ribbon and click the “Name Manager” button in the Defined Names group. Next, select the name that you want to delete and click the “Delete” button. Finally, click the “OK” button to confirm the deletion.

Is It Possible to Delete Multiple Names at Once in Excel?

Yes, it is possible to delete multiple names at once in Excel. To do this, open the Name Manager and select the names that you want to delete. Next, click the “Delete” button, then click the “OK” button to confirm the deletion.

What Happens If I Try to Delete a Name That Is Still in Use?

If you try to delete a name that is still in use, Excel will display an error message. This is because deleting a name while it is still in use, such as in a formula, can cause errors in your spreadsheet. To avoid this, make sure that you delete only unused names.

Excel: Define Name and deleting of data ranges

Deleting a defined name in Excel can be a quick and simple process, allowing you to make the necessary changes to your spreadsheets. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can confidently delete any unwanted defined names in your Excel spreadsheets with ease. With this, you can keep your spreadsheets clean and organized, ensuring your data is always up to date and accurate.