Making a Named Range Non-Scrollable

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.