diff --git a/Classes/PHPExcel/Reader/Excel2007.php b/Classes/PHPExcel/Reader/Excel2007.php
index 803b8bd1..754cd20d 100644
--- a/Classes/PHPExcel/Reader/Excel2007.php
+++ b/Classes/PHPExcel/Reader/Excel2007.php
@@ -1098,7 +1098,7 @@ class PHPExcel_Reader_Excel2007 implements PHPExcel_Reader_IReader
 							}
 
 							if ($xmlSheet && $xmlSheet->autoFilter && !$this->_readDataOnly) {
-								$docSheet->setAutoFilter((string) $xmlSheet->autoFilter["ref"]);
+								$docSheet->getAutoFilter()->setRange((string) $xmlSheet->autoFilter["ref"]);
 							}
 
 							if ($xmlSheet && $xmlSheet->mergeCells && $xmlSheet->mergeCells->mergeCell && !$this->_readDataOnly) {
@@ -1560,7 +1560,7 @@ class PHPExcel_Reader_Excel2007 implements PHPExcel_Reader_IReader
 										switch ((string)$definedName['name']) {
 
 											case '_xlnm._FilterDatabase':
-												$docSheet->setAutoFilter($extractedRange);
+												$docSheet->getAutoFilter()->setRange($extractedRange);
 												break;
 
 											case '_xlnm.Print_Titles':
diff --git a/Classes/PHPExcel/ReferenceHelper.php b/Classes/PHPExcel/ReferenceHelper.php
index 8955ecea..c7b9e657 100644
--- a/Classes/PHPExcel/ReferenceHelper.php
+++ b/Classes/PHPExcel/ReferenceHelper.php
@@ -312,8 +312,8 @@ class PHPExcel_ReferenceHelper
 
 
 		// Update worksheet: autofilter
-		if ($pSheet->getAutoFilter() != '') {
-			$pSheet->setAutoFilter( $this->updateCellReference($pSheet->getAutoFilter(), $pBefore, $pNumCols, $pNumRows) );
+		if ($pSheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange() !== '') {
+			$pSheet->setAutoFilter( $this->updateCellReference($pSheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange(), $pBefore, $pNumCols, $pNumRows) );
 		}
 
 
diff --git a/Classes/PHPExcel/Worksheet.php b/Classes/PHPExcel/Worksheet.php
index eb90590f..b52ccb37 100644
--- a/Classes/PHPExcel/Worksheet.php
+++ b/Classes/PHPExcel/Worksheet.php
@@ -200,11 +200,11 @@ class PHPExcel_Worksheet implements PHPExcel_IComparable
 	private $_protectedCells = array();
 
 	/**
-	 * Autofilter Range
+	 * Autofilter Range and selection
 	 *
-	 * @var string
+	 * @var PHPExcel_Worksheet_AutoFilter
 	 */
-	private $_autoFilter = '';
+	private $_autoFilter = NULL;
 
 	/**
 	 * Freeze pane
@@ -365,7 +365,9 @@ class PHPExcel_Worksheet implements PHPExcel_IComparable
 		$this->_defaultRowDimension = new PHPExcel_Worksheet_RowDimension(null);
 
 		// Default column dimension
-		$this->_defaultColumnDimension = new PHPExcel_Worksheet_ColumnDimension(null);
+		$this->_defaultColumnDimension	= new PHPExcel_Worksheet_ColumnDimension(null);
+
+		$this->_autoFilter			= new PHPExcel_Worksheet_AutoFilter();
 	}
 
 
@@ -1832,9 +1834,9 @@ class PHPExcel_Worksheet implements PHPExcel_IComparable
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Get Autofilter Range
+	 *	Get Autofilter
 	 *
-	 * @return string
+	 *	@return PHPExcel_Worksheet_AutoFilter
 	 */
 	public function getAutoFilter()
 	{
@@ -1842,35 +1844,32 @@ class PHPExcel_Worksheet implements PHPExcel_IComparable
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Set Autofilter Range
+	 *	Set AutoFilter
 	 *
-	 * @param	string		$pRange		Cell range (i.e. A1:E10)
-	 * @throws	Exception
-	 * @return PHPExcel_Worksheet
+	 *	@param	PHPExcel_Worksheet_AutoFilter|string	$pValue
+	 *			A simple string containing a Cell range like 'A1:E10' is permitted for backward compatibility
+	 *	@throws	Exception
+	 *	@return PHPExcel_Worksheet
 	 */
-	public function setAutoFilter($pRange = '')
+	public function setAutoFilter($pValue)
 	{
-		// Uppercase coordinate
-		$pRange = strtoupper($pRange);
-
-		if (strpos($pRange,':') !== false) {
-			$this->_autoFilter = $pRange;
-			$this->_dirty = true;
-		} else {
-			throw new Exception('Autofilter must be set on a range of cells.');
+		if (is_string($pValue)) {
+			$this->_autoFilter->setRange($pValue);
+		} elseif(is_object($pValue) && ($pValue instanceof PHPExcel_Worksheet_AutoFilter)) {
+			$this->_autoFilter = $pValue;
 		}
 		return $this;
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Set Autofilter Range by using numeric cell coordinates
+	 *	Set Autofilter Range by using numeric cell coordinates
 	 *
-	 * @param	int	$pColumn1	Numeric column coordinate of the first cell
-	 * @param	int	$pRow1		Numeric row coordinate of the first cell
-	 * @param	int	$pColumn2	Numeric column coordinate of the second cell
-	 * @param	int	$pRow2		Numeric row coordinate of the second cell
-	 * @throws	Exception
-	 * @return PHPExcel_Worksheet
+	 *	@param	int	$pColumn1	Numeric column coordinate of the first cell
+	 *	@param	int	$pRow1		Numeric row coordinate of the first cell
+	 *	@param	int	$pColumn2	Numeric column coordinate of the second cell
+	 *	@param	int	$pRow2		Numeric row coordinate of the second cell
+	 *	@throws	Exception
+	 *	@return PHPExcel_Worksheet
 	 */
 	public function setAutoFilterByColumnAndRow($pColumn1 = 0, $pRow1 = 1, $pColumn2 = 0, $pRow2 = 1)
 	{
diff --git a/Classes/PHPExcel/Worksheet/AutoFilter.php b/Classes/PHPExcel/Worksheet/AutoFilter.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c0055a5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Classes/PHPExcel/Worksheet/AutoFilter.php
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * PHPExcel
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2006 - 2012 PHPExcel
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ *
+ * @category   PHPExcel
+ * @package    PHPExcel_Worksheet
+ * @copyright  Copyright (c) 2006 - 2012 PHPExcel (http://www.codeplex.com/PHPExcel)
+ * @license    http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/lgpl-2.1.txt	LGPL
+ * @version    ##VERSION##, ##DATE##
+ */
+
+
+/**
+ * PHPExcel_Worksheet_AutoFilter
+ *
+ * @category   PHPExcel
+ * @package    PHPExcel_Worksheet
+ * @copyright  Copyright (c) 2006 - 2012 PHPExcel (http://www.codeplex.com/PHPExcel)
+ */
+class PHPExcel_Worksheet_AutoFilter
+{
+	/**
+	 * Autofilter Range
+	 *
+	 * @var string
+	 */
+	private $_range = '';
+
+
+    /**
+     * Create a new PHPExcel_Worksheet_AutoFilter
+     */
+    public function __construct($pRange = '')
+    {
+		$this->_range = $pRange;
+    }
+
+	/**
+	 * Get AutoFilter Range
+	 *
+	 * @return string
+	 */
+	public function getRange() {
+		return $this->_range;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 *	Set AutoFilter Range
+	 *
+	 *	@param	string		$pRange		Cell range (i.e. A1:E10)
+	 *	@throws	Exception
+	 *	@return PHPExcel_Worksheet_AutoFilter
+	 */
+	public function setRange($pRange = '') {
+		// Uppercase coordinate
+		$pRange = strtoupper($pRange);
+
+		if (strpos($pRange,':') !== FALSE) {
+			$this->_range = $pRange;
+		} elseif(empty($pRange)) {
+			$this->_range = '';
+		} else {
+			throw new Exception('Autofilter must be set on a range of cells.');
+		}
+
+		return $this;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Implement PHP __clone to create a deep clone, not just a shallow copy.
+	 */
+	public function __clone() {
+		$vars = get_object_vars($this);
+		foreach ($vars as $key => $value) {
+			if (is_object($value)) {
+				$this->$key = clone $value;
+			} else {
+				$this->$key = $value;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * toString method replicates previous behavior by returning the range if object is
+	 *    referenced as a property of its parent.
+	 */
+	public function __toString() {
+		return $this->_range;
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel2007/Workbook.php b/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel2007/Workbook.php
index bd02832b..59622fde 100644
--- a/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel2007/Workbook.php
+++ b/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel2007/Workbook.php
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel2007_Workbook extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel2007_Write
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Write Defined Name for autoFilter
+	 * Write Defined Name for named range
 	 *
 	 * @param 	PHPExcel_Shared_XMLWriter	$objWriter 		XML Writer
 	 * @param 	PHPExcel_NamedRange			$pNamedRange
@@ -347,14 +347,14 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel2007_Workbook extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel2007_Write
 	private function _writeDefinedNameForAutofilter(PHPExcel_Shared_XMLWriter $objWriter = null, PHPExcel_Worksheet $pSheet = null, $pSheetId = 0)
 	{
 		// definedName for autoFilter
-		if ($pSheet->getAutoFilter() != '') {
+		if ($pSheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange() !== '') {
 			$objWriter->startElement('definedName');
 			$objWriter->writeAttribute('name',			'_xlnm._FilterDatabase');
 			$objWriter->writeAttribute('localSheetId',	$pSheetId);
 			$objWriter->writeAttribute('hidden',		'1');
 
 			// Create absolute coordinate and write as raw text
-			$range = PHPExcel_Cell::splitRange($pSheet->getAutoFilter());
+			$range = PHPExcel_Cell::splitRange($pSheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange());
 			$range = $range[0];
 			//	Strip any worksheet ref so we can make the cell ref absolute
 			if (strpos($range[0],'!') !== false) {
diff --git a/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel2007/Worksheet.php b/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel2007/Worksheet.php
index b97648db..37c39f20 100644
--- a/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel2007/Worksheet.php
+++ b/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel2007/Worksheet.php
@@ -725,12 +725,12 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel2007_Worksheet extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel2007_Writ
 	 */
 	private function _writeAutoFilter(PHPExcel_Shared_XMLWriter $objWriter = null, PHPExcel_Worksheet $pSheet = null)
 	{
-		if ($pSheet->getAutoFilter() != '') {
+		if ($pSheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange() !== '') {
 			// autoFilter
 			$objWriter->startElement('autoFilter');
 
 			// Strip any worksheet reference from the filter coordinates
-			$range = PHPExcel_Cell::splitRange($pSheet->getAutoFilter());
+			$range = PHPExcel_Cell::splitRange($pSheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange());
 			$range = $range[0];
 			//	Strip any worksheet ref
 			if (strpos($range[0],'!') !== false) {
diff --git a/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5.php b/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5.php
index 599d0d48..6eb69943 100644
--- a/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5.php
+++ b/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5.php
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5 implements PHPExcel_Writer_IWriter
 			$escher = null;
 
 			// check if there are any shapes for this sheet
-			if (count($sheet->getDrawingCollection()) == 0 && $sheet->getAutoFilter() == '') {
+			if (count($sheet->getDrawingCollection()) == 0 && $sheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange() === '') {
 				continue;
 			}
 
@@ -358,43 +358,43 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5 implements PHPExcel_Writer_IWriter
 
 				$spgrContainer->addChild($spContainer);
 			}
-			
+
 			// AutoFilters
-			if($sheet->getAutoFilter() != ''){
-				$rangeBounds = PHPExcel_Cell::rangeBoundaries($sheet->getAutoFilter());
+			if($sheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange() !== ''){
+				$rangeBounds = PHPExcel_Cell::rangeBoundaries($sheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange());
 				$iNumColStart = $rangeBounds[0][0];
 				$iNumColEnd = $rangeBounds[1][0];
-				
+
 				$iInc = $iNumColStart;
 				while($iInc <= $iNumColEnd){
 					++$countShapes[$sheetIndex];
-					
+
 					// create an Drawing Object for the dropdown
 					$oDrawing  = new PHPExcel_Worksheet_BaseDrawing();
 					// get the coordinates of drawing
 					$cDrawing   = PHPExcel_Cell::stringFromColumnIndex($iInc - 1) . $rangeBounds[0][1];
 					$oDrawing->setCoordinates($cDrawing);
 					$oDrawing->setWorksheet($sheet);
-					
+
 					// add the shape
 					$spContainer = new PHPExcel_Shared_Escher_DgContainer_SpgrContainer_SpContainer();
 					// set the shape type
 					$spContainer->setSpType(0x00C9);
 					// set the shape flag
 					$spContainer->setSpFlag(0x01);
-					
+
 					// set the shape index (we combine 1-based sheet index and $countShapes to create unique shape index)
 					$reducedSpId = $countShapes[$sheetIndex];
 					$spId = $reducedSpId
 						| ($sheet->getParent()->getIndex($sheet) + 1) << 10;
 					$spContainer->setSpId($spId);
-					
+
 					// keep track of last reducedSpId
 					$lastReducedSpId = $reducedSpId;
-					
+
 					// keep track of last spId
 					$lastSpId = $spId;
-					
+
 					$spContainer->setOPT(0x007F, 0x01040104); // Protection -> fLockAgainstGrouping
 					$spContainer->setOPT(0x00BF, 0x00080008); // Text -> fFitTextToShape
 					$spContainer->setOPT(0x01BF, 0x00010000); // Fill Style -> fNoFillHitTest
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5 implements PHPExcel_Writer_IWriter
 					$spContainer->setEndCoordinates($endCoordinates);
 					$spContainer->setEndOffsetX(0);
 					$spContainer->setEndOffsetY(0);
-					
+
 					$spgrContainer->addChild($spContainer);
 					$iInc++;
 				}
diff --git a/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5/Workbook.php b/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5/Workbook.php
index fafc123b..4fdcada2 100644
--- a/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5/Workbook.php
+++ b/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5/Workbook.php
@@ -779,16 +779,16 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_Workbook extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_BIFFwriter
 				$chunk .= $this->writeData($this->_writeDefinedNameBiff8(pack('C', 0x06), $formulaData, $i + 1, true));
 			}
 		}
-		
+
 		// write autofilters, if any
 		for ($i = 0; $i < $total_worksheets; ++$i) {
 			$sheetAutoFilter = $this->_phpExcel->getSheet($i)->getAutoFilter();
-			if($sheetAutoFilter != ''){
-				$rangeBounds = PHPExcel_Cell::rangeBoundaries($sheetAutoFilter);
-				
+			if($sheetAutoFilter->getRange() !== ''){
+				$rangeBounds = PHPExcel_Cell::rangeBoundaries($sheetAutoFilter->getRange());
+
 				//Autofilter built in name
 				$name = pack('C', 0x0D);
-				
+
 				$chunk .= $this->writeData($this->_writeShortNameBiff8($name, $i + 1, $rangeBounds, true));
 			}
 		}
@@ -830,7 +830,7 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_Workbook extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_BIFFwriter
 
 		return $header . $data;
 	}
-	
+
 	/**
 	 * Write a short NAME record
 	 *
@@ -842,10 +842,10 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_Workbook extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_BIFFwriter
 	 * */
 	private function _writeShortNameBiff8($name, $sheetIndex = 0, $rangeBounds, $isHidden = false){
 		$record = 0x0018;
-	
+
 		// option flags
 		$options = ($isHidden  ? 0x21 : 0x00);
-	
+
 		$extra  = pack('Cvvvvv',
 				0x3B,
 				$sheetIndex - 1,
@@ -853,17 +853,17 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_Workbook extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_BIFFwriter
 				$rangeBounds[1][1] - 1,
 				$rangeBounds[0][0] - 1,
 				$rangeBounds[1][0] - 1);
-	
+
 		// size of the formula (in bytes)
 		$sz = strlen($extra);
-	
+
 		// combine the parts
 		$data = pack('vCCvvvCCCCC', $options, 0, 1, $sz, 0, $sheetIndex, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)
 			. $name . $extra;
 		$length = strlen($data);
-	
+
 		$header = pack('vv', $record, $length);
-	
+
 		return $header . $data;
 	}
 
diff --git a/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5/Worksheet.php b/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5/Worksheet.php
index ec1f34d5..b079da58 100644
--- a/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5/Worksheet.php
+++ b/Classes/PHPExcel/Writer/Excel5/Worksheet.php
@@ -390,8 +390,8 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_Worksheet extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_BIFFwriter
 				$this->_writeColinfo($this->_colinfo[$i]);
 			}
 		}
-		
-		if ($_phpSheet->getAutoFilter() != '') {
+
+		if ($_phpSheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange() !== '') {
 			// Write AUTOFILTERINFO
 			$this->_writeAutoFilterInfo();
 		}
@@ -2048,15 +2048,15 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_Worksheet extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_BIFFwriter
 	private function _writeAutoFilterInfo(){
 		$record	  = 0x009D;						// Record identifier
 		$length	  = 0x0002;						// Bytes to follow
-		
-		$rangeBounds = PHPExcel_Cell::rangeBoundaries($this->_phpSheet->getAutoFilter());
+
+		$rangeBounds = PHPExcel_Cell::rangeBoundaries($this->_phpSheet->getAutoFilter()->getRange());
 		$iNumFilters = 1 + $rangeBounds[1][0] - $rangeBounds[0][0];
 
 		$header   = pack("vv", $record, $length);
 		$data     = pack("v",  $iNumFilters);
 		$this->_append($header . $data);
 	}
-	
+
 	/**
 	 * Write the GUTS BIFF record. This is used to configure the gutter margins
 	 * where Excel outline symbols are displayed. The visibility of the gutters is
@@ -2737,7 +2737,7 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_Worksheet extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_BIFFwriter
 								, 0			// reserved
 								, 0			// reserved
 						);
-					
+
 					// Add ftSbs Scroll bar subobject
 					$objData .= pack('vv', 0x00C, 0x0014);
 					$objData .= pack('H*', '0000000000000000640001000A00000010000100');
@@ -2759,7 +2759,7 @@ class PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_Worksheet extends PHPExcel_Writer_Excel5_BIFFwriter
 							, 0			// reserved
 						);
 				}
-				
+
 				// ftEnd
 				$objData .=
 					pack('vv'