Names

A name is an alias for a constant, a cell reference, or a formula. [Note: A name in a formula can make it easier to understand the purpose of that formula. For example, the formula SUM(FirstQuarterSales) is easier to identify than SUM(C20:C30). end note]

Here is the syntax for name:

name:
[ workbook-name ! ] name-start-character [ name-characters ]

name-start-character:
letter
_
\

name-characters:
name-characters name-character

name-character:
letter
any decimal digit 0–9
_
.

names are not case-sensitive.

All names within a workbook shall be unique. If the same names are defined in two workbooks, both names can be used in the same context be prefixing them with their corresponding workbook name and an exclamation mark (!). [Example: SUM(Sales.xlsx!ProjectedSales) refers to the named range ProjectedSales in the workbook named Sales.xlsx. end example]

A name shall not have any of the following forms:

• TRUE or FALSE

• user-defined-function-name

• cell-reference

[Guidance An implementation is encouraged to support names at least as long as 255 characters. end guidance]

For rules on how deal with potential ambiguities between function names and defined names, or between cell references and defined names, see §3.17.5.1.