What is the part of the Excel screen that shows the address of the active cell?

Alternatively referred to as a cell pointer, current cell, or selected cell, an active cell is a rectangular box that highlights the cell in a spreadsheet. An active cell helps identify what cell is being worked with and where data will be entered.

• Active cell overview.
• How is an active cell identified?
• Where is the content of the active cell is displayed?
• How do you change the active cell?
• Which cell is active when Excel is first opened?
• Related information.

Active cell overview

In the picture below of Microsoft Excel, you can see that the active cell is D8 and is shown in the top-left corner.

Tip

When you first start Excel the active cell is the first cell, which is always A1. You can move the cell pointer by pressing the arrow keys or Enter on your keyboard, or you can click any cell using your computer mouse. If you're using the keyboard, you can also press the F2 to edit the active cell.

How is an active cell identified?

An active cell or selected cell can be identified many ways. First, as shown in the picture above of Microsoft Excel, the active cell has a bold black box around the cell. Also, the column and row are highlighted. In our example picture, the column header "D" and row header "8" are highlighted in yellow. The active cell is also shown in the top-left portion of the window (Name box), which is "D8" in our example.

Where is the content of the active cell is displayed?

The content of the active cell is shown in the formula bar. In the screenshot above, the formula bar displays the formula in cell D8. The formula, "=SUM(D2:D5)", adds the values of cells D2 through D5 to compute their total value, $162.00. When cell D8 is selected, both the cell and the formula bar display the formula. When any other cell is selected, cell D8 shows the result of its formula, the total $162.00.

How do you change the active cell?

You can change the active cell by clicking any other cell with your left mouse button or with the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the selected cell. If the cell contains no data, you can begin typing to insert new data into that cell. If the cell already contains data, you can click up on the formula bar to change that data or press the F2 on the keyboard.

Which cell is active when Excel is first opened?

When you open a new Excel spreadsheet for the first time, the first cell is selected by default, which is A1 (the first cell of row A and column one). If you've worked on an Excel spreadsheet in the past, the active cell is the last active cell position. For example, if you last left the spreadsheet on cell C65, when it is saved and re-opened, it should return to cell C65.

The Name Box in Excel is located on the left side of the Excel window. It is used to give a name to a table or any cell. For any normal cells, by default, the name is the row character and the column number, such as cell A1. However, we can check it when we click on the cell. It shows in the Name Box as A1, but we can input any name for the cell, press the “Enter” key, and refer to the cell with the name we put in the Name Box.

Table of contents

• What is Name Box in Excel?
  • Where to Find Name Box in Excel?
  • How to Use Name Box in Excel?
    • #1 – Quick & Fast to go to the Specific Cell
    • #2 – Select More than Once Cell at a Time
    • #3 – Select Range of Cells From Active Cell
    • #4 – Select only Two cells
    • #5 – Select Multiple Range of Cells
    • #6 – Select Entire Column
    • #7 – Select Entire Row
  • Recommended Articles

A Name Box is a tool that shows the active cell address. For example, if you have selected cell C1, this Name Box will show the active cell address as C1.

• The first scenario in Excel is when we are working with Excel by mistake; we would press some other key from the keyboard. Suddenly our active cell goes missing, and we do not know what the active cell is now. How do you find what is the active cell now?
• The second one is that we have seen most people use a range of cells as referenceRange Of Cells As ReferenceCell reference in excel is referring the other cells to a cell to use its values or properties. For instance, if we have data in cell A2 and want to use that in cell A1, use =A2 in cell A1, and this will copy the A2 value in A1.read more for their formulas when we can use named ranges easily without worrying about the wrong range of cells selection and finding the range of cells in the large worksheet.

Both of the above seem like bigger problems, but the solutions are as simple. The solution for both scenarios is “Name Box.” This article will take you through the tool “Name Box.”

Where to Find Name Box in Excel?

The “Name Box” is available at the Excel Formula bar’s left end. Even though we work enough time with Excel spreadsheets, it goes unnoticed by many of the users.

How to Use a Name Box in Excel?

The usage of the  Name Box is not only limited to active cell addresses, but it has many more features which can be critical in daily use. So, now we will see what this name box uses.

#1 – Quick & Fast to go to the Specific Cell

It is one of the great features when we work with large databases. So we often return to the specific cells to do the job. For example, assume you want to go to cell B100. It will take a lot of time to reach that cell if we scroll down the worksheet. But using the name box, we can quickly locate and arrive at that cell.

1. For this, first, we must select the “Name Box.”

   
   

   

2. Now, type the cell address that we want to go to.

   
   

   

3. After typing the desired cell address, press the “Enter” key. It will take you to the mentioned cell.

   
   

   

#2 – Select More than Once Cell at a Time

Assume you have data like the below picture.

In this data, we have blank cells. Therefore, if we want to select the full data range, using the shortcut Shift + Ctrl + Right Arrow keys from cell A1, it will choose until it finds the blank cell, i.e., until cell D1.

Similarly, for the shortcut key Shift + Ctrl + Down Arrow, it will stop at the A6 cell.

In such cases, the more blank cells, the more time it takes, and it is frustrating because of irritating empty cells. To quickly select this range of cells, we can enter the range of cells in the name box itself.

In this case, our first cell selected is A1, and the last cell is E7. So, we must type the cell address range as A1:E7 in the name box, then press the “Enter” key. It will select the mentioned range of cells quickly.

#3 – Select Range of Cells From Active Cell

Assume your active cell is B3. You want to select the range of cells from this cell as B3:D6.

We need not mention the range of cells as B3:D6. Rather than from the active cell, insert the end of the cell address range. Then, in the name box, type the last cell to be selected, the D6 cell.

Do not press the “Enter” key. Rather, press the Shift + Enter key to select the range of cells.

#4 – Select only Two cells

In the above example, we have selected a range of cells. From active cell B3, we have entered D6 as the last cell of the range and hit Shift + Enter to select the range as B3 to D6. But instead of pressing Shift + Enter,if we press Ctrl + Enter, it will choose only two cells, B3 and D6.

Now, press the Ctrl + Enter keys to select two cells, B3 and D6.

#5 – Select Multiple Range of Cells

In the above two examples, we have seen how to select a range of cells from active cells and two individual cells. Now, we will see how to select multiple ranges of cells. For example, look at the below data.

In the above image, we have two sets of ranges one is from A1 to C5, and another one is from E1 to F5. We can select two different ranges of cells from the name box. Enter two ranges of cells separated by a comma (,).

After entering the range address, press the “Enter” key or “Ctrl + Enter” to select the range of cells as mentioned.

#6 – Select Entire Column

We can also select the entire column from the name box. For example, if we want to choose the whole column C, then type the address as C:C.

Press the “Enter” key after you mention the column address.

#7 – Select Entire Row

We can also select the entire row from the name box. For example, if we want to choose the whole row 2, then type the address as 2:2.

Press the “Enter” key after you mention the row address.

Like this, we can use the Excel Name Box to our advantage at our workplace to work efficiently.

Recommended Articles

This article is a guide to Name Box in Excel. We discuss using the name box property to find the active cell address and select the entire range of cells, rows, and columns in Excel, along with practical examples and a downloadable Excel template. You may learn more about Excel from the following articles: –

• Compare and Match Excel ColumnsCompare And Match Excel ColumnsThe users can compare and match two columns in excel as per their requirements, data structure and the tools known by applying different formulas. One such example is comparing and matching two excel columns to get the result as "TRUE" and "FALSE".read more
• Excel AVERAGEIFS FunctionExcel AVERAGEIFS FunctionWhen there are multiple conditions to be met, the AVERGAEIFS function in Excel is used to find the average from the target range of cells. We used AVERGAEIF for a single condition, but AVERGAEIFS for multiple conditions.read more
• What is Excel Dynamic Named Range?What Is Excel Dynamic Named Range?Dynamic named range in excel changes as the data in the range changes, and so does the dashboard or charts or reports associated with them. To make a table as a dynamic named range, select the data, insert a table, and then name the table.read more
• Name Range in ExcelName Range In ExcelName range in Excel is a name given to a range for the future reference. To name a range, first select the range of data and then insert a table to the range, then put a name to the range from the name box on the left-hand side of the window.read more
• Row Limit in ExcelRow Limit In ExcelLimit of rows in excel is a great tool to add more protection to the spreadsheet as this limits the other users to change or modify the spreadsheet to an extensive limit.

  What is the part of the Excel screen that shows the address of the active cell 2 word answer required?

  Name Box: The name box appears to the left of the formula bar and displays the name of the current cell. Unless you define a cell or range of cells with a specific name, the name box will display the cell reference of the active cell.

  What shows address of active cell in Excel?

  Detailed Solution. The address of the Current Active Cell is displayed in the Cell Name box. Data or Formula of Current Active Cell can be viewed inside the Cell Contents box of the Excel Formula bar.