Tech Tip of the Week

AutoFill in Excel

Excel’s AutoFill feature can reduce the amount of typing that you have to do. Excel can either copy values into several cells, or it can logically extrapolate how a series of cells should be continued. Different types of data have different rules for AutoFill.

For continuing a series i.e. if the spreadsheet needs to have all the months of the year as headings, just type the first two months. Without leaving the second cell, move the cursor over the fill handle until it becomes a solid black cross. Click and drag the fill handle across the required cells. Excel will automatically fill in the rest of the months until you stop dragging, and it will also keep the months in the same format.

If you need to number a series of cells sequentially, type the first two numbers and select both cells. Then click and drag the fill handle across the required cells. If you only select the second cell, Excel will copy the value of the cell two and will not complete the series.