# Creating and Using a Custom Name Learn how to create and use custom names in spreadsheets for better organization and efficiency. Find out how to define and use custom names in formulas, and understand the scope of sheet and workbook level custom names. ## Content Custom, user-defined names are identifiers to represent information in the spreadsheet, used mostly in formulas. A custom name can refer to a cell, a range of cells, a computed value, or a formula. You can define a custom name and then use the name in formulas. When the formula is evaluated, the custom name's value is referenced and evaluated. You can create sheet level or workbook level custom names. The scope of the sheet level custom name is limited to the sheet for which it was created. This allows you to use the same name on several sheets. Formulas in a sheet will ignore sheet level custom names on other sheets. Use the [AddCustomName](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-win/FarPoint.Win.Spread/FarPoint.Win.Spread.SheetView.AddCustomName.html) method in the [SheetView](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-win/FarPoint.Win.Spread/FarPoint.Win.Spread.SheetView.html) class to add workbook or sheet level custom names. The *sheetViewScope* parameter in the **AddCustomName** method can be set to true for a sheet level custom name and false for a workbook level custom name. Avoid using custom names that start with C# or R# patterns (# stands for any number). It also supports the hidden custom Name. If a customer creates a custom name without specifying the sheet name (using reference like A1, A1:A2 etc.), the reference will automatically refer to the active sheet. In other words, if you want to use the current sheet with the custom name's formula, you must use special syntax. For instance, if a user provides "!A1" as an input, the final formula of custom name will be changed to "Sheet1!A1". ## Using Code Define the custom name using the [AddCustomName](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-win/FarPoint.Win.Spread/FarPoint.Win.Spread.SheetView.AddCustomName.html) method for the workbook or sheet. ## Example To add a custom name for a cell specified with A1 notation, use the [AddCustomName](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-win/FarPoint.Win.Spread/FarPoint.Win.Spread.SheetView.AddCustomName.html) method as shown in the following example, which creates a workbook level custom name. ```csharp fpSpread1.Sheets[0].AddCustomName("test", "$B$1", 0, 0); ``` ```vbnet fpSpread1.Sheets[0].AddCustomName("test", "$B$1", 0, 0); ``` To add a custom name for a computed value, use the [AddCustomName](/spreadnet/api/latest/online-win/FarPoint.Win.Spread/FarPoint.Win.Spread.SheetView.AddCustomName.html) method as shown in this code: ```csharp fpSpread1.Sheets[0].AddCustomName("alpha", "101", 0, 0); ``` ```vbnet fpSpread1.Sheets[0].AddCustomName("alpha", "101", 0, 0); ``` The following example adds a name that is a range reference. ```csharp fpSpread1.Sheets[0].AddCustomName("Sales", "Sheet1!$F$20:$F$50", 0, 0); ``` ```vbnet fpSpread1.Sheets[0].AddCustomName("Sales", "Sheet1!$F$20:$F$50", 0, 0); ``` ## Using the Spread Designer 1. Select the **Data** menu in the Spread Designer. 2. Select the **Name Manager** icon. 3. Use the **New** button to add custom names and click the **Close** button when finished. 4. From the **File** menu choose **Apply and Exit** to apply your changes to the component and exit Spread Designer. ## See Also [Formulas in Cells](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula) [Placing a Formula in Cells](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulaplace) [Specifying a Cell Reference in a Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulacellref) [Specifying a Sheet Reference in a Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulasheetref) [Specifying an External Reference in a Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-externalref) [Using a Circular Reference in a Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulacircref) [Nesting Functions in a Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulanested) [Recalculating and Updating Formulas Automatically](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formularecalc) [Finding a Value Using GoalSeek](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formula-goalseek) [Allowing the User to Enter Formulas](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulaallowuser) [Creating and Using a Custom Function](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulacustomfunc) [Creating and Using External Variable](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-external-variable) [Using the Array Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-arrayformula) [Working with the Formula Text Box](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulabar) [Setting up the Name Box](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-namebox) [Using Language Package](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/UsingLanguagePackage) [Accessing Data from Header or Footer](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-headerfooterformula) [Managing External Reference](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-extrenalreference) [Working With Dynamic Array Formulas](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/WorkingWithDynamicArrayFormulas) [Formulas in Cells](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula) [Placing a Formula in Cells](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulaplace) [Specifying a Cell Reference in a Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulacellref) [Specifying a Sheet Reference in a Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulasheetref) [Specifying an External Reference in a Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-externalref) [Using a Circular Reference in a Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulacircref) [Nesting Functions in a Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulanested) [Recalculating and Updating Formulas Automatically](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formularecalc) [Finding a Value Using GoalSeek](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formula-goalseek) [Allowing the User to Enter Formulas](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulaallowuser) [Creating and Using a Custom Function](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulacustomfunc) [Creating and Using External Variable](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-external-variable) [Using the Array Formula](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-arrayformula) [Working with the Formula Text Box](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-formulabar) [Setting up the Name Box](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-namebox) [Using Language Package](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/UsingLanguagePackage) [Accessing Data from Header or Footer](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-headerfooterformula) [Managing External Reference](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/spwin-extrenalreference) [Working With Dynamic Array Formulas](/spreadnet/docs/latest/online-win/overview/spwin-devguide/spwin-cell-formula/WorkingWithDynamicArrayFormulas)