Name assigned in workbook refers to range problem!!!

[brucemc]

This will be "fun" to describe so it makes sense...

At the spreadsheet level (no VBA on this part) I have used Insert:
Name: Create to create names for several rows and columns of a table.
For instance, row names dog, cat, skunk; column names smellsgood,
smells, smellsbad.

Then I used Insert: Name: Define and created two new names, let's call
them condition_1 and condition_2.

Condition_1 and Condition_2 have multiple embedded IF statements,
Condition_1 to determine the Row name and Condition_2 for the Column
name.

Now here is my problem: Using the intersection operator (a space), if I
assign a cell:
=dog smells
I get the item that is at the intersection of the range named dog and
the range named smells without any problem, but if Condition_1 and
Condition_2 both properly evaluate out to dog and smells respectively
and I try:
=condition_1 condition_2
I get a name error (I think).

I suspect I might have to tell Excel that these named variables are for
ranges, but as they were created using Insert: Name: Define (i.e.: not
in VBA), I do not know how (If that indeed is the problem), for I can't
assign either a specific range as they change depending on the multiple
embeded IF statements assigned to each condition, which go something
like:
=IF(<condition exists>, "dog", IF (<another condition>,"Cat", IF
(<another condition>,"Skunk","")))

Well, because I know what I am trying to do, all that makes sense. I
REALLY hope it makes sense to you folks, as I gotta find out how to do
this!

Thank-you,
-brucemc

p.s. Where's that head-banging smiley...?

 

[Guest]

Remove the quotes round you named ranges i.e "dog" should be dog


=IF(<condition exists>, dog, IF (<another condition>,Cat, IF
<another condition>,Skunk,"")))

 

[brucemc]

Toppers: Thanks, "big-time". I was beating my head against every othe
expression and never thought to examine the root of this; I wa
mentally stuck in the mode of trying to change the string variable bac
into a range rather than never having set it up as a string in the firs
place. I think it is time to cut the lawn, as my head seems to b
stuffed with too much old grease. I appreciate your help immensly

 

[Guest]

Enjoy mowing the lawn .... and thanks for the feedback.

 

[brucemc]

If you happen to drop back by and have a moment, perhaps you might be
able to tell me if & how to make this thing three dimensional, along
the same lines of a three dimensional array - the same two conditions
will be used to look up a second value whose table "coordinates" are a
duplicate of the first. If this can be done, how is the next "layer"
table set up, and is it addressed

=condition_1 condition_2 condition_3

?