Direct answer to your question -- use the INDIRECT() function: https://support.office.com/en-us/art...1-92b6306fa261 Note the optional 2nd [A1] argument that allows you to specify that the resulting reference text is an R1C1 reference and not an A1 reference. Some something like INDIRECT("R1C1:R"&excelname&"C1",FALSE) should work for you.