Fix Excel Named Ranges Missing from the Use in Formula List in WPS Spreadsheets
Question details
The user needs to understand why named ranges created after copying a worksheet do not appear in the Use in Formula list and how name scope controls their visibility in WPS Spreadsheets.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user copied a worksheet, created named ranges, and then looked for those names in the Use in Formula list on another worksheet.
- Observed behavior
- The named ranges are missing from the Use in Formula list even though they exist in the workbook.
Open the workbook where the named ranges are missing and confirm that the Formulas tab is available in WPS Spreadsheets so you can access Name Manager.
Change an Existing Named Range to Workbook Scope in Name Manager
Use this method to make existing named ranges visible in the Use in Formula list on every worksheet by changing their scope from worksheet level to workbook level.
Worksheet-level names are available only on the sheet where they were created, which is why they do not appear in the Use in Formula list elsewhere. Name Manager shows each name's scope and lets you edit it without recreating formulas.
Click the Formulas tab in WPS Spreadsheets, then select Name Manager in the Defined Names group.
In the Name Manager dialog, look at the Scope column to identify names with a worksheet name instead of Workbook.
Select the named range, click Edit, and change the Scope setting to Workbook.
Return to the worksheet, click Use in Formula on the Formulas tab, and verify that the named range now appears in the list.
Recreate a Named Range with Workbook Scope
Use this alternative if you prefer to recreate the name from scratch or if the existing name is difficult to edit.
Manage Named Range Scope in WPS Spreadsheets
Use the Name Manager in WPS Spreadsheets to inspect and change named range scope so workbook-level names appear in the Use in Formula list exactly where you expect them.
- 1. Open the workbook: Open the WPS Spreadsheets workbook that contains the missing named ranges.
- 2. Open Name Manager: Go to Formulas > Name Manager to list all defined names and their current scope.
- 3. Set scope to Workbook: Edit the worksheet-level named range and change the Scope field to Workbook.
- 4. Verify from another worksheet: Select a different worksheet, click Use in Formula, and confirm the named range appears.
- 5. Save the workbook: Press Ctrl+S to save the workbook with the corrected name scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my named ranges missing from the Use in Formula list after copying a worksheet?
They were likely created with worksheet-level scope. In WPS Spreadsheets, open Formulas > Name Manager and check the Scope column. Worksheet-level names only appear in the Use in Formula list on their assigned worksheet.
How do I change a named range from worksheet scope to workbook scope?
Open Formulas > Name Manager, select the named range, click Edit, and change the Scope field to Workbook. The name then becomes available on every worksheet.
Can workbook-scoped defined names be used on all worksheets?
Yes. Workbook-scoped names are available throughout the workbook and appear in the Use in Formula list regardless of the active worksheet.
Does WPS Spreadsheets support Excel named range scope?
Yes. WPS Spreadsheets opens Excel workbooks and preserves named ranges, including worksheet-level and workbook-level scope, so you can manage them in Name Manager.
Where is the Use in Formula list in WPS Spreadsheets?
It is on the Formulas tab. Click Use in Formula to browse workbook-level names and insert them into the current formula.
