Excel's AutoFill feature is based on the program's ability to spot patterns in the data that you enter. For example, if you type "Week 1" in a given cell, you can have Excel automatically fill in "Week 2", "Week 3", etc. simply by dragging the AutoFill handle. This is to be found in the bottom right of the cell. If the cursor moves over it, the cursor changes appearance to a plus sign (+). When it changes you simply click, hold, drag in any direction and Excel will spot the pattern and maintain it to generate automatic data entries.
Whenever you make use of the AutoFill handle Excel displays the AutoFill Options drop down menu below the last cell which has been generated. If the program has not entered the required data, you can choose one of the entries in the AutoFill Options so that it knows what you actually meant it to do. For example, choosing Copy Cells, gives you an exact copy of what was in the original cell.
Excel is also capable of automatically entering an arbitrary series of data using a feature called Custom Lists. There are certain lists built into Excel, for example, the months of the year. To use the AutoFill feature, you need to enter the first value in the list, for example, "January" or "Jan". Next, you drag the AutoFill handle (located in the bottom right of the cell) in any direction to have Excel automatically enter the rest of the custom list.
In addition to these built-in lists Excel allows you to create your own custom lists. For example, suppose we worked for a company that has branches in several towns. It's almost certain that we would list these towns quite frequently in our spreadsheets. We could therefore save ourselves considerable time by setting this up as a custom list.
To create a custom list, simply select some cells that contain the information. Next, choose Excel options by clicking on the Office button. Click "Edit Custom Lists" in the "Popular" tab. Excel lists the contents of the cells that were highlighted. To set up the selected data as a custom list, simply click on the "Import" button.
Having created a custom list, you can use it in any of your worksheets, not just the one that contained the original information. To conjure up the entries in the list, simply enter the first value. Next, drag the AutoFill handle and Excel will generate the remaining entries. When you use this facility, you are able to drag in any direction and you don't have to start with the first entry in the custom list.
Custom lists can also be created directly in the "Custom Lists" dialog box. To do this, click on the "List Entries" button and type the entries separated by a carriage return. When you've finished entering the list, click on the Add button.
To delete a custom list, simply highlight its name and click on the "Delete" button. Excel checks to see that you really want to delete it. When you click "OK", the list is permanently deleted. - 16003
Whenever you make use of the AutoFill handle Excel displays the AutoFill Options drop down menu below the last cell which has been generated. If the program has not entered the required data, you can choose one of the entries in the AutoFill Options so that it knows what you actually meant it to do. For example, choosing Copy Cells, gives you an exact copy of what was in the original cell.
Excel is also capable of automatically entering an arbitrary series of data using a feature called Custom Lists. There are certain lists built into Excel, for example, the months of the year. To use the AutoFill feature, you need to enter the first value in the list, for example, "January" or "Jan". Next, you drag the AutoFill handle (located in the bottom right of the cell) in any direction to have Excel automatically enter the rest of the custom list.
In addition to these built-in lists Excel allows you to create your own custom lists. For example, suppose we worked for a company that has branches in several towns. It's almost certain that we would list these towns quite frequently in our spreadsheets. We could therefore save ourselves considerable time by setting this up as a custom list.
To create a custom list, simply select some cells that contain the information. Next, choose Excel options by clicking on the Office button. Click "Edit Custom Lists" in the "Popular" tab. Excel lists the contents of the cells that were highlighted. To set up the selected data as a custom list, simply click on the "Import" button.
Having created a custom list, you can use it in any of your worksheets, not just the one that contained the original information. To conjure up the entries in the list, simply enter the first value. Next, drag the AutoFill handle and Excel will generate the remaining entries. When you use this facility, you are able to drag in any direction and you don't have to start with the first entry in the custom list.
Custom lists can also be created directly in the "Custom Lists" dialog box. To do this, click on the "List Entries" button and type the entries separated by a carriage return. When you've finished entering the list, click on the Add button.
To delete a custom list, simply highlight its name and click on the "Delete" button. Excel checks to see that you really want to delete it. When you click "OK", the list is permanently deleted. - 16003
About the Author:
Author is a developer and trainer with OnSiteTrainingCourses.Com, an independent computer training company offering Microsoft Excel training courses at their central London training centre.
