OT: Spreadsheet formula question (openoffice)

The offset function OFFSET(reference; rows; columns; height; width) and some other forms as shown at

might do what you want. Also see the example at

which works ok with the following exceptions: (1) Use oocalc's semicolon rather than excel's comma between OFFSET arguments; (2) In the 'Insert, Name, Create; choose Left Column' step, oocalc stored names _Rows and _Cols rather than Rows and Cols; (3) F5 didn't invoke the GoTo dialog referred to in the example and I don't know how to invoke it.

Anyhow, I put =sum(MyData) into a cell, and verified that the number displayed in the cell changed appropriately when I changed values of numbers in B1...B4, indicating that MyData was a dynamically calculated range.

The simpler example at

will be relevant if all you want is a name assigned to a range of cells, rather than the dynamic range supported by OFFSET.

James Waldby fired this volley in news:h5adnfsHF- GAUS_XnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@bresnan.com:

ACtually, he might be wanting the INDIRECT function, instead.

He said he wanted a cell (or cell pair) that would describe the beginning and ending data. INDIRECT seems well-suited to that.

LLoyd

Indirect worked. Btw, it was used in the link that James kindly provided.

Thanks to both of you.

Wes