XL: Macro to Delete #REF! Defined Name Errors in a Workbook

Last reviewed: February 3, 1998
Article ID: Q153454
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, if you have a workbook with defined names that refer to different worksheets and you then delete those worksheets, you will receive a #REF!<cell reference> error in the defined names dialog box. You can only delete the reference errors individually using the Define Name dialog box. However, you can use a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications procedure to delete all defined name reference errors within the active workbook.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

To delete #REF! errors in defined names, follow these steps:

  1. Create a new workbook with at least two sheets.

  2. Select cell A1 in Sheet2.

  3. On the Insert menu, point to Name, and then click Define.

  4. In the Define Name dialog box, type "myname" (without the quotation marks) in the Names In Workbook box, and then click OK.

    This creates a defined name that refers to cell A1 in Sheet2.

  5. Delete Sheet2.

    This makes the defined name "myname" refer to =#REF!$A$1.

  6. Type the following code in a new module sheet.

          ' This procedure deletes every named range in which the RefersTo
          ' argument contains #REF!, where #REF! begins at the second character
          ' and ends at the fifth.
    

          Sub Delete_Every_Named_Range_With_A_Reference_Error()
             Dim nm As Object
             Dim mystr As String
    
             ' Loops through each name in the active workbook.
             For Each nm In ActiveWorkbook.Names
    
                ' Check for #REF! in the defined name reference.
                If InStr(1, nm.RefersTo, "#REF!") Then
    
                   ' Delete the defined name if it is a match.
                   nm.Delete
    
                End If
             Next
          End Sub
    
    

  7. Run the macro.

    The defined name "myname" is deleted from the workbook.


Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 5.00c 7.00 7.00a 8.00 XL98 XL97 XL7 XL5
howto how to
Keywords : kbcode kbprg xlformula PgmOthr
Version : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,7.0a,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,98
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


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Last reviewed: February 3, 1998
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