Re: [libreoffice-users] Renaming a Calc range

I'm not qualified to explain why both Named Ranges and Database Ranges 
exist, but I've used both of them extensively in some fairly complex 
spreadsheets.

I just did a quick test, and there is a relatively simple way to change 
the name of a DatabaseRange; by using a Macro (Basic Code).

Enter the following subroutine in one of the document's Basic modules 
(create one if none exist), replace the "WrongRange" and "CorrectName" 
text with what your range is currently named and what you want it to be 
named (but retain the quotation marks), then execute it (F5).  There is 
no visual indication anything happened, but on my version 25.2.0.3 
(Debian 12 OS) this does indeed rename the range, and attempting to 
execute it a second time results in a "No Such Element" error.

``` Basic

Sub RenameDatabaseRange
ThisComponent.DatabaseRanges.getByName("WrongRange").setName("CorrectName")
End Sub

```

This indicates that the ability to rename a range exists, it's just not 
implemented in the GUI.

Beware that this code is for a Database Range, a Named Range is accessed 
in an entirely different manner in Basic code.


On 10/25/25 14:14, John Kaufmann wrote:
> Hi Regina,
>
> On 2025-10-24 17:35, Regina Henschel wrote:
> > Waltr schrieb am 24.10.2025 um 19:18:
> > > . . .
> > > If it's in a spreadsheet sheet, you can rename the ranges used there 
> > > by going to Sheet tab, dropping down to
> > >
> > > Named Ranges and Expressions...Manage as Mike suggested.
> >
> > The question was not about menu Sheet > Named Ranges and Expressions 
> > but about menu Data > Define Range. "Named Range" and "Database 
> > Range" are two very different kind of "ranges".
>
> This is an extremely important point, because it is fundamental yet 
> not well known to people who have used OO/LO Calc for years. Since 
> starting this thread (in complete ignorance of this point), I have 
> been trying to understand the motivation for, and use of, "Named 
> Ranges" (as opposed to "Database Ranges") - even why they are managed 
> via the Insert and Sheet menus rather than the Data menu - and I'm 
> still struggling with that. I don't find this distinction clarified by 
> either the Calc Guide or Calc Help. At least the Navigator collects 
> both entity types; otherwise they seem to have no connection. Johnny 
> Rosenberg's post distills my confusion, showing how even the most 
> experienced and conscientious user can be confused.
>
> Thanks for your constant, patient help,
> John

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