Making a Named Range Non-Scrollable

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 11, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365


3

Brian has a worksheet divided into two named-row ranges. He wonders how he can make the upper range fixed (permanently visible) while the lower range is scrollable.

It may be possible, but the answer depends on a lot of variables. First, let's assume that the two named ranges are Range1 and Range2 and that Range1 is physically above Range2. In this case the answer is rather easy: you can use Excel's built-in tools to keep Range1 in view at all times. For instance, you could use the "freeze panes" tool in this way:

  1. Display Range1 at the top of the worksheet.
  2. Select the left-most cell just below the range.
  3. Display the View tab of the ribbon
  4. Click the Freeze Panes tool.
  5. Click Freeze Panes.

Excel dutifully freezes the rows and columns above and to the left of the cell so they are always displayed.

You could, if you prefer, split the window. You do this by following these steps:

  1. Display Range1 at the top of the worksheet.
  2. Select the left-most cell just below the range.
  3. Display the View tab of the ribbon
  4. Click the Split tool.

Excel divides the screen into either two or four views of the same worksheet.

Both panes and splits result in portions of your screen that are tied to each other when it comes to scrolling. For instance, if you scroll left or right, then both vertical portions of the screen (above the freeze line or the split line) scroll synchronously. If you don't want this scrolling to occur—you really want the top pane/split to stay frozen independent of the bottom one—then Excel doesn't provide any way to facilitate such a need short of opening the workbook in two separate windows and positioning the windows relative to each other.

Further, if you want Range2 to appear as the upper range, even when it is physically below Range1, then the closest you can come is to split the window (don't use the "freeze panes" tool) and display Range2 in the upper split. You can then, in the lower split, display Range1. Of course, scrolling in one split will still affect what is viewed in the other split.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12995) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Ignoring the Spelling of Proper Nouns

Proper nouns (such as the names of people) are routinely marked as incorrect by Word's spell checker. If you are tired of ...

Discover More

Forcing Dates Forward

Want to push a date to some pre-defined day of the month? Here's some ways to force the issue.

Discover More

Replacing Cell Formats

Need to replace the formats applied to some cells with a different format? Those using Excel 2003 will find it easy; ...

Discover More

Program Successfully in Excel! John Walkenbach's name is synonymous with excellence in deciphering complex technical topics. With this comprehensive guide, "Mr. Spreadsheet" shows how to maximize your Excel experience using professional spreadsheet application development tips from his own personal bookshelf. Check out Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA today!

More ExcelTips (ribbon)

Deleting Blank Columns

Import data from another program, and you could end up with a lot of blank columns in your data. Here's the quickest way ...

Discover More

Spreading Out Worksheet Rows

If someone sends you a worksheet that has lots of data in it, you might want to "spread out" the data so you can have ...

Discover More

Inserting and Copying Rows

Want an easy way to insert a new row in a worksheet and copy everything from the row above? (You end up with two ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 6 - 0?

2020-07-11 13:19:15

Héctor Enrique Polla

I think there is another way. Using the camera. Range 1 in sheet 2, in sheet 1 you punt in it the picture of the range in sheet 2, and below it, the range you want to scroll. it´s truth you can´t select a cell of the picture, but you already can see it and even you can put a macro that send you to the second sheet when you touch the picture. Sorry my written English y not very good, my spoken one... acceptable.


2020-07-11 11:25:51

Ed Marshall

I love your newsletters, Allen, and I have purchased a few of your books. All have been helpful.

I know space is limited, but I'm surprised that you did not offer the "Camera" option to your "Making a Named Range Non-Scrollable" tip. I use that feature all the time.


2020-07-11 08:38:42

Koen Segers

Couldn't you use the New Window command and then arrange the two sheets in such a way that the top one shows the Non-scrollable Range? To my experience, you can sroll in the bottom one as much as you like, the top one remains in place. In the top one, you could then also collapse the Ribbon in order to maximize the display of your non-scrollable range...


This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.