Named range as chart data reference (error)

[Keith R]

Based on Steve Bullen's FunChart1 example (in that particular example,
auto-expanding named ranges) I've set up some graphs that used named ranges
as their data source. I copied the worksheet of graphs into a new workbook
and now have global named ranges that match the graphs' original named
ranges (using Jon Peltier's suggestion to use Jan Pieterse et al's Name
Manager v4.0, in which I removed all the sheet named ranges which were
duplicates, leaving me with just one set of global named ranges)

The graphs, which still have their original named range sources, update when
the raw data updates- but I am unable to edit the named range for any
charts. If I click into the source data entry box (series/values) and try to
click out, I get an error message (formula contains an error). The
references are simple (=v11.xls!A_, =v11.xls!B_, etc.) and the named ranges
point to valid ranges of data (and the graphs update when the raw data is
updated).

A_ =INDIRECT("'MAIN DATA'!$BA$" & Graphs!$A$4 & ":$BA$" & Graphs!$B$4)
B_ =OFFSET(A_,0,1)
C_ =OFFSET(A_,0,2)
etc.
(all show the target data range correctly when I click in the range box of
the named range dialogue)

Based on the original problem with the named ranges, is there anything that
might be residually causing problems with the graphs? Any ideas what else I
should check?

Thank you very much,
Keith

 

[Keith R]

v11.xls is the workbook name
Graphs is the graphs worksheet name
Main Data is the data worksheet name

When I replace =v11.xls!A_ with ='Main Data'!A_ it accepts it as a valid
range, and the moment I go back into source data to look at it, it has been
automatically updated to =v11.xls!A_ ...and if I click into this updated
name, it still gives me the 'formula contains an error' message

This is very confusing to me :-(

Thanks for any advice,
Keith

 

[Jon Peltier]

Is this Excel 2007? I ran across some issues in this release with names as
chart source data, getting error messages even though the ranges were valid
and the charts updated appropriately. Apparently saving the workbook with a
different name, then quitting and restarting Excel and reopening the newly
named workbook, fixed it.

I've run across other issues in 2007 with names being accepted and charts
not updating until they were saved (not saved as something else) and
reopened. This occurs with only workbook or worksheet level names, I forget
which.

Still some rough edges.

- Jon

 

[Keith R]

Jon- thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, this is in Excel 2003 (sorry I
forgot to mention that in my original post). It is discouraging to think
that the problem is the same (or worse) in 2007. I saved the file under a
new filename, but find that both

'workbookname.xls'!named_range
and
'worksheetname'!named_range

both still autotransform to
workbookname.xls!named_range

which then gives the same symptom, where Excel doesn't consider it a valid
formula.

At this point, I'm inclined to rebuild the workbook (it is bloating as well)
so maybe I'll get lucky and the problem will dissapear when I do so. I'll
open a separate thread in Excel.misc to ask for any tips/tricks on how to
unbloat workbooks without messing up cross-sheet formulas, etc.

Thanks,
Keith

 

[Jon Peltier]

'workbookname.xls'!named_range

and
'worksheetname'!named_range

both still autotransform to
workbookname.xls!named_range

Probably because your name is a workbook-level name. You can access a
workbook level name in some cases (i.e,. chart series formulas and source
data input boxes) even by prefixing with the worksheet name.

The other day I rebuilt a client's workbook, which was misbehaving (names,
bloat, array formulas, and much more, but fortunately not a lot of off-sheet
links to get wrong the first three times), and would crash every five
minutes. Whatever was wrong hasn't been back.

- Jon

 

[Keith R]

Jon- thank you for your reply.

Since my workbook is also 'misbehaving' (bloat, plus this graph source data
reference issue), do you have any suggestions for the easiest way to rebuild
a workbook? I'm not sure if I should just copy/paste each sheet into a fresh
workbook (fixing formulas along the way so they don't point to the old
workbook), or if there is anything else I need to do.

Thank you for any advice,
Keith

 

[Jon Peltier]

I always start with a new workbook with as many blank sheets as the
original. I name the sheets to match, copy each original sheet, then paste
special formulas and paste special formats into the new sheet. Sometimes I
have to paste special other things as well, for example, comments. Along the
way I make sure that any names have been defined in the new workbook. Since
it's often the charts that go sour, I rebuild all the charts, which can be
the most tedious part.

- Jon

 

[Keith R]

Great, thank you for the input- I can definitely mimic that process. Now I'm
noodling whether I should (or even could) just replicate those same steps in
VBA, like a poor man's version of Rob Bovey's code cleaner, only for the
non-VBA side of the workbook. I don't know that I'm advanced enough to
replicate graphs (just for lack of experience with the graph object model)
but the rest of it seems fairly straightforward. Maybe next year, when I
have more time ;-)

Thanks again Jon-

Keith

 

[Jon Peltier]

That's pretty ambitious. The VBA modules are basically simple text files,
and there is already export/import functionality for it.

For a few of my projects I've written "Archive" features, which basically
means making a copy of a workbook, with values instead of links and pictures
instead of charts. It is a tedious operation, and every so often one of the
users discovers a feature of a workbook which crashes the Archive code and
must be dealt with.

Good luck.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
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