Thanks Millz,
- I know the .listobjects("table").databodyrange.listcolumns(1).address should work but it aint. giving on Object error. code is running using the named range instead without a hitch until somewhere after the problem kicks in

- changed the ...=ccont.value as per your suggestion and am getting the result I want which is value placed in appropriate place in the named range

... But am still getting the same problem with table corrupting and excel crashing i'm afraid

Have gone back to an earlier version of the file, ie corruption free, replaced code and retried and getting the same problem result

it doesn't appear to be a problem with the code, per se, as it does what is asked but somehow it is conflicting with rowsource because the table is definitely corrupting.

If I remove the Table and just have a range, there is no problem... but the table is needed for powerpivot relationships

any other ideas appreciated. thanks