Range Names Dialog

The Range Names dialog is used to select spreadsheet cells for spreadsheet linking and conversion activities in DPL. Depending on the context, you can select either a single cell or multiple cells. The default behavior and which buttons and checkboxes appear varies by context.

Range Names list box

The Range Names list box displays the list of named ranges or cells in the spreadsheet appropriate for the context. For example, if you are creating linked values from Excel, then by default the Range Names list box will display all named single cells that contain either values (to be linked to export nodes) or formulas (to be linked to import nodes) and that are not already linked to the model.

If you are creating initialization links, then by default the Range Names list box will display all the named cells or ranges that are candidates for initializing values or probabilities in your model, including cells/ranges that are already linked as well as cells/ranges that contain formulas.

If you are editing a node to create a link to an Excel cell or range, then by default the list box will display cells with formulas because the node you are linking could be an import node or an export node.

The range names shown in the list box will also depend on the dimensionality of the node you are creating or linking. If the node represents a scalar value, you will only see one-cell ranges in the list box, but if it is a multidimensional value node, then you may see multidimensional named ranges on the list. Similarly, if you are creating a linked value from Excel and there are 1- or 2-dimensional named ranges in the spreadsheet, you will see these ranges in the list and you can tell DPL to create multidimensional value nodes that are linked to these ranges.

To select multiple cells in the list box, hold down Ctrl or Shift while clicking with the mouse. For example, to select 5 cells listed together in the list box, press Shift and hold it down while clicking the first of the 5 and the last of the 5. To select non-contiguous cells, hold down Ctrl and click each.

Select

This button appears if you are only allowed to select one cell from the Range Names list (e.g., when you are editing the Link for a node in the Node Definition dialog). Select the cell and click Select.

OK

This button appears if you are allowed to select multiple cells from the Range Names list (e.g., when you are creating linked values from Excel). Once you have finished selecting the cells you want, click OK to close the dialog.

Select All

This button appears if the context allows you to select multiple cells from the Range Names list (e.g., when you are creating linked values). Click Select All to select all cells in the Range Names list box.

Go to Range

Use this button to activate the spreadsheet, worksheet and cell selected in the Range Names list box. When you click it, you will be transferred to Excel.

Sort by Location

Check this box to sort the range names by location in the Excel workbook instead of alphabetically by range name.

Show ranges already linked

Check this to see named cells in the spreadsheet that are already linked to nodes in the model. This is unchecked by default since you rarely need to link to the same cell more than once.

Show ranges with formulas

Check this to see named cells in the spreadsheet that contain formulas. In some situations this will be checked by default.

Prefix node name with sheet name

This checkbox appears only if a new node is being created. Check this box if you would like the name of the sheet that the named range/cell is located to prefix the name of the node in your model.

Create DPL program export nodes

This checkbox appears if a new Excel initialization-linked node is being created. Check this box if you would like to set up a link to a DPL calculation program linked to the model. Data from the node will be sent to the value of the same name in the program (note: the value must exist in the program). This can be useful when you are setting up an Excel-linked portfolio model for which you have multiple input spreadsheets that will pass data to a DPL calculation program.

Create string nodes

Check this box if the node represents a string value. String nodes cannot be used in any calculations. They may be useful to report on qualitative information in a portfolio application.

Versions: DPL Professional, DPL Enterprise, DPL Portfolio

See Also

Spreadsheet Linking Overview

Creating Spreadsheet-Linked Nodes

Linking Nodes to a Spreadsheet