XL: Can't Link Chart Title to Names Containing Text

ID: Q109576

5.00 5.00c 7.00 WINDOWS kbusage

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, if you link a chart title to a defined name containing text, you receive the following error message:

   External reference is not valid.

WORKAROUND

To link a chart title to a defined name containing text on a workbook, do the following:

1. Define a name on a workbook with the following steps:

   a. In a worksheet, from the Insert menu, choose Name, and then choose
      Define.

   b. In the Names in Workbook box, type the name you want to define. Click
      in the Refers To box, and then select a cell on the worksheet below
      the Define Name dialog box.

   c. Choose OK.

2. Select the chart.

3. If your chart already has a title, skip to step 4. If it does not,

   choose Titles from the Insert menu. Under Attach Text To, select the
   desired title check box, and choose OK.

4. Select the title you want to link to the defined name, and click in the

   formula bar.

5. Type the workbook name followed by the defined name. For example

      =BOOK1.XLS!Sales

   where Sales is the name you defined in Step 1. Press ENTER.

6. Select a sheet in the workbook, and from the Insert menu, choose Name,

   and then choose Define. Select the name you defined in Step 1, and in
   the Refers To box, type the actual text you want the name to refer to.
   For example, type

      =$A$5&" Sales Figures"

   and choose OK.

The chart title you linked to the defined name is updated to reflect the added text.

The chart title linked to a defined name is updated to include text contained in the defined name, however you cannot link a chart title to a defined name that contains text.

NOTE: You can use these same steps to link a chart title in a chart sheet to a defined name containing text as well.

REFERENCES

For more information about Editing Titles And Text Boxes, choose the Search button in Help and type:

    chart titles

KBCategory: kbusage KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 5.00 5.00c 7.00

Version           : 5.00 5.00c 7.00
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: March 29, 1997