Enhanced Filling

Summary: Using the AutoFill feature of Excel is very handy. If you want to expand the utility offered by the feature, all you need to do is change how you click the AutoFill handle. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, Excel 2003, and Excel 2007.)

Excel allows you to quickly and easily fill a series of cells with a progression of values by simply using the fill handle. This is the small black dot that appears at the lower-right corner of a cell when it is selected. Just click on the fill handle and drag to select the cells you want filled. Using this feature allows Excel to make decisions about how the cells you select should be filled.

You can gain more control over the filling process if, instead of clicking on the fill handle, you right-click on it and then drag. When you release the mouse button a Context menu appears that allows you to select the type of fill you want to perform.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2095) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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Enhanced Filling