"digicat" wrote in
message ...

Two problems when I try your suggstion:
1. the naam Sheet3!name is not valid - because of the ! in it

It is valid!

2. even with another valid name like Sheet3name, the name still applies
only to the range in Sheet 3 and is visible visible in the namebox in
all sheets

I know that, I told you that earlier.

I'm trying to give the same range on multiple sheets one name that will
apply to all sheets.

You can't do that. You can give the range on each sheet the same name, but
it will only be visible on that sheet, as I explained earlier.