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Charts based on 'virtual' names
Hi all,
Just upgraded from Office 97 to Office 2007 (big jump!) and trying to fix the things that broke! I routinely make so-called "dynamic" charts in the traditional manner using ranges defined by formula which resolve to ranges of cells e.g. define 'Bias & Precision'!Samples as =OFFSET('Bias & Precision'!$A$2,0,0,COUNTA('Bias & Precision'!$A:$A)-1) I've had a couple of snags with these but it seems to still work as long as I watch the scope of the names. What seems to be very "broken" is the use of names which do not resolve to ranges of cells. These are referred to in the Excel 2007 help (Use names to clarify formulas) as 'Formula' type names where the examples given (which resolve to a single number) are =SUM(VLOOKUP(A1,B1:F20,5,FALSE), -G5) and =SUM(Inventory_Level,-Order_Amt) In the past I have used names which resolve to arrays, e.g. define 'Bias & Precision'!Deviations as ='Bias & Precision'!Samples - 'Bias & Precision'!Means and used these both as inputs to other formulae and as the sources of charts. Because these do not exist on the worksheet I do not have to enter the formula in a predefined range of cells, the "virtual ranges" extend as far as needed. In Excel 2007 they still work for calculations, but not (reliably) as sources of charts. I get all sorts of wierd behaviour, sometimes it works sometimes not and I haven't yet fully defined what breaks it. If I remove all the data so the ranges are empty sets I get "A formula in this worksheet contains one or more invalid references". If I then enter data the chart doesn't automatically update. If I go to edit the source (using the SERIES function, is there any other way in 2007 to get to the data series?) sometimes it works, sometimes it won't even let me make a change - when I press the return key nothing happens! I'm aware of 'tables' which would meet my needs in many ways BUT I believe you cannot extend the range of tables in protected sheets and I do need to protect my sheets; I'm producing tools for users who are fully capable of accidentally overwriting my formulae! I'm working around it by putting the formulae into (longer than I anticipate will be needed) cell ranges which is really better in some ways anyway; these "virtual ranges" are a bit opaque, perhaps too clever). Nevertheless I'd be interested to know whether the Excel 2007 behaviour is a recognised "improvement", whether it is likely to remain, and if anyone has characterised it any better than me. Best regards, A Lurker (Sorry to be anonymous, but needs must) |
#2
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.charting
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Charts based on 'virtual' names
I too have run into this same problem.....unfortunately, I have not been able
to find a solution yet. I am using dynamic ranges for a couple of charts (using offset formulas), but when I open the workbook in Excel 2007, I get the "A formula in this worksheet contains one or more invalid references" message. This is maddening because I don't know of any other way to accomplish having a dynamic chart. I'm assuming this is an Excel 2007 bug, so I downloaded the Office 2007 Service Pack 1 today in hopes that it was fixed. Unfortunately I'm still getting the same message. If anybody knows of a fix for this, or a workaround, I'd appreciate hearing about it. Jeff "Lurker" wrote: Hi all, Just upgraded from Office 97 to Office 2007 (big jump!) and trying to fix the things that broke! I routinely make so-called "dynamic" charts in the traditional manner using ranges defined by formula which resolve to ranges of cells e.g. define 'Bias & Precision'!Samples as =OFFSET('Bias & Precision'!$A$2,0,0,COUNTA('Bias & Precision'!$A:$A)-1) I've had a couple of snags with these but it seems to still work as long as I watch the scope of the names. What seems to be very "broken" is the use of names which do not resolve to ranges of cells. These are referred to in the Excel 2007 help (Use names to clarify formulas) as 'Formula' type names where the examples given (which resolve to a single number) are =SUM(VLOOKUP(A1,B1:F20,5,FALSE), -G5) and =SUM(Inventory_Level,-Order_Amt) In the past I have used names which resolve to arrays, e.g. define 'Bias & Precision'!Deviations as ='Bias & Precision'!Samples - 'Bias & Precision'!Means and used these both as inputs to other formulae and as the sources of charts. Because these do not exist on the worksheet I do not have to enter the formula in a predefined range of cells, the "virtual ranges" extend as far as needed. In Excel 2007 they still work for calculations, but not (reliably) as sources of charts. I get all sorts of wierd behaviour, sometimes it works sometimes not and I haven't yet fully defined what breaks it. If I remove all the data so the ranges are empty sets I get "A formula in this worksheet contains one or more invalid references". If I then enter data the chart doesn't automatically update. If I go to edit the source (using the SERIES function, is there any other way in 2007 to get to the data series?) sometimes it works, sometimes it won't even let me make a change - when I press the return key nothing happens! I'm aware of 'tables' which would meet my needs in many ways BUT I believe you cannot extend the range of tables in protected sheets and I do need to protect my sheets; I'm producing tools for users who are fully capable of accidentally overwriting my formulae! I'm working around it by putting the formulae into (longer than I anticipate will be needed) cell ranges which is really better in some ways anyway; these "virtual ranges" are a bit opaque, perhaps too clever). Nevertheless I'd be interested to know whether the Excel 2007 behaviour is a recognised "improvement", whether it is likely to remain, and if anyone has characterised it any better than me. Best regards, A Lurker (Sorry to be anonymous, but needs must) |
#3
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.charting
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Charts based on 'virtual' names
I find the offset technique for dynamic charts works as long as
a) the scope of the names, b) the ranges of cells they refer to, and c) the chart are all on the same worksheet. This is a big restriction. I still welcome any clarification from anyone else. Please let us know if Service Pack 1 helps. HTH A Lurker "goofy11" wrote in message ... I too have run into this same problem.....unfortunately, I have not been able to find a solution yet. I am using dynamic ranges for a couple of charts (using offset formulas), but when I open the workbook in Excel 2007, I get the "A formula in this worksheet contains one or more invalid references" message. This is maddening because I don't know of any other way to accomplish having a dynamic chart. I'm assuming this is an Excel 2007 bug, so I downloaded the Office 2007 Service Pack 1 today in hopes that it was fixed. Unfortunately I'm still getting the same message. If anybody knows of a fix for this, or a workaround, I'd appreciate hearing about it. Jeff "Lurker" wrote: Hi all, Just upgraded from Office 97 to Office 2007 (big jump!) and trying to fix the things that broke! I routinely make so-called "dynamic" charts in the traditional manner using ranges defined by formula which resolve to ranges of cells e.g. define 'Bias & Precision'!Samples as =OFFSET('Bias & Precision'!$A$2,0,0,COUNTA('Bias & Precision'!$A:$A)-1) I've had a couple of snags with these but it seems to still work as long as I watch the scope of the names. What seems to be very "broken" is the use of names which do not resolve to ranges of cells. These are referred to in the Excel 2007 help (Use names to clarify formulas) as 'Formula' type names where the examples given (which resolve to a single number) are =SUM(VLOOKUP(A1,B1:F20,5,FALSE), -G5) and =SUM(Inventory_Level,-Order_Amt) In the past I have used names which resolve to arrays, e.g. define 'Bias & Precision'!Deviations as ='Bias & Precision'!Samples - 'Bias & Precision'!Means and used these both as inputs to other formulae and as the sources of charts. Because these do not exist on the worksheet I do not have to enter the formula in a predefined range of cells, the "virtual ranges" extend as far as needed. In Excel 2007 they still work for calculations, but not (reliably) as sources of charts. I get all sorts of wierd behaviour, sometimes it works sometimes not and I haven't yet fully defined what breaks it. If I remove all the data so the ranges are empty sets I get "A formula in this worksheet contains one or more invalid references". If I then enter data the chart doesn't automatically update. If I go to edit the source (using the SERIES function, is there any other way in 2007 to get to the data series?) sometimes it works, sometimes it won't even let me make a change - when I press the return key nothing happens! I'm aware of 'tables' which would meet my needs in many ways BUT I believe you cannot extend the range of tables in protected sheets and I do need to protect my sheets; I'm producing tools for users who are fully capable of accidentally overwriting my formulae! I'm working around it by putting the formulae into (longer than I anticipate will be needed) cell ranges which is really better in some ways anyway; these "virtual ranges" are a bit opaque, perhaps too clever). Nevertheless I'd be interested to know whether the Excel 2007 behaviour is a recognised "improvement", whether it is likely to remain, and if anyone has characterised it any better than me. Best regards, A Lurker (Sorry to be anonymous, but needs must) |
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