Page 162 - Excel Timesaving Techniques for Dummies

30_574272 ch26.qxd 10/1/04 10:48 PM Page 147
147
Using Your Range Names in Formulas
range name in the formulas. For example, the formula one cell in the same row or column, the repeating
in cell D3 now contains of these headings can make the formulas long and
cumbersome to decipher (thus defeating the goal of
=_12_305 Retail_Price*discount_25
using range names to document their function).
If I had left the Omit Row Name if Same Row check For example, the formula in cell E3 that computes
box selected in the Apply Names dialog box, the for- the sales price for the 36-inch round table with the
mula in D3 would instead read code 12-305 now reads

=Retail_Price*discount_25 =_10_235 Retail_Price-_10_235 Discount

The problem with omitting the row heading from the In such cases, you may be better off using the Apply
formulas is that all the formulas in column D would Names default settings that omit all repeated head-
then read the same as the one in D3. By adding the ings to create a much cleaner, albeit generic form of
row heading, anyone using the spreadsheet can eas- the formula. In the case of E3, the sales price formula
ily verify the precise function of each discount for- created by omitting the row heading would be much
mula. For example, when the cell pointer is in cell D6 simpler:
of the sales table shown in Figure 26-9, the formula
on the Formula bar reads =Retail_Price-Discount
=_10_234 Retail_Price*discount_15 Just keep in mind that this is how all the rest of the
sales price formulas in cells D4, D5, D6, D7, and D8
The only problem with including the row or column appear.
headings is that, in formulas that refer to more than