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How to reference worksheet by index number instead of name in Excel?

Author Siluvia Last modified

Many Excel users rename default worksheet names as needed. However, in some cases, they may need to reference a worksheet by its index number rather than by name. How to achieve it? You can try the method in the article.

Reference worksheet by index number instead of name with User-defined function

Reference worksheet by index number instead of name with User-defined function

Please do as follows to reference worksheet by index number instead of name in Excel.

1. Press Alt + F11 keys simultaneously to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

2. In the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, click Insert > Module. Then copy and paste the below VBA code into the Module window.

VBA code: Reference worksheet by index number in Excel

Function SHEETNAME(number As Long) As String
    SHEETNAME = Sheets(number).Name
End Function

3. Press the Alt + Q keys to close the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

Notes:

1. To reference a specific sheet by index, select a blank cell and enter the formula =SHEETNAME(1) into the Formula Bar, then press Enter. See screenshot:

A screenshot showing how to reference an Excel sheet by index number using VBA

2. If you want to get a cell value from a worksheet based on its index number, please use this formula.

=INDIRECT("'"&SHEETNAME(1) &"'!A1")

3. And if you want to sum a certain column in a worksheet based on its index number, please apply this formula.

=SUM(INDIRECT("'"&SHEETNAME(1) &"'!C2:C7"))

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