use of numbers within name of UDF in Excel VBA

Question

I added the following functions:

Function map() As Integer
   map = 1
End Function
Function map_2() As Integer
   map_2 = 1
End Function
Function map2() As Integer
   map2 = 1
End Function

The first two functions work. But the last one - doesn't - I am getting #REF error. Why is it?

It looks like excel treats them as cell address.

I tried map22() , mpa22() , map333() - they don't work. But map_22() , map_333() work. I am using Excel 2013

Answer 1

The Reason is because Excel treats 1, 2 or 3 letters followed by any number of letters as a cell reference:

• =A1
  Reference to Cell A1
• =BB22
  Reference to Cell BB22
• =MAP2
  Reference to nonexistent Cell MAP2
  As in: Column "MAP", Row "2"

If we make the same general arrangement with "Real" cells, we get the same ref.

I would encourage to you use your =MAP_1 as I don't really know any way around it.