name ranges in nonadjacent cells

[rj183600]

I cannot seem to get excel to recognise a named range of non-adjacent columns. Say I want to name a range existing out of column A and column E only.

I can create names for A and E separately, and create a name for A to E. But what about A and E together. If you highlight both columns and go to insert, name, define it shows =sheet1!$A:$A, sheet1!$E:$E, but it won't recognise the name afterwards. In particular I want to link the spreadsheet to Access, but only these named ranges.

Is this possible without reformat the spreadsheet so the columns are adjacent?

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

What do you mean when you say "it won't recognise the name afterwards"?

 

[rj183600]

If you define a named range, when you highlight that range then the name shows in the top left hand "names" box. But if I create the range for non-adjacent cells, when I highlight them then it doesn't show me a name in the names box.

Also, if you then try to link the named range into access, access doesn't see that the spreadsheet has a named range.

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

The range must be a rectangle of cells for its name to appear in the Names box. Your range refers to a union of cells.

I expect the same is true for Access.