auto fill options (copy cell, not create series)

[Guest]

Hello. I use the auto fill handle to fill several cells with a number.
However, auto fill is creating a series, and I only want to copy. Each time,
I have to go into the drop down Auto Fill Options and click 'Copy Cells'
instead of 'Fill Series'. Any way to set the auto fill option to Copy Cells
instead of Fill Series? I am using 2007.
Thank you.

 

[Stephen]

Hello. I use the auto fill handle to fill several cells with a number.
However, auto fill is creating a series, and I only want to copy. Each
time,
I have to go into the drop down Auto Fill Options and click 'Copy Cells'
instead of 'Fill Series'. Any way to set the auto fill option to Copy
Cells
instead of Fill Series? I am using 2007.
Thank you.

If you select just one cell and then drag auto fill, it should copy that
value rather than filling a series. If it doesn't, you can hold down CTRL
whilst dragging auto fill.

Also you can drag the auto fill handle with the RIGHT mouse button. When you
release it the auto fill options box opens automatically, allowing you to
select which option you want.

There is another way of entering the same number into several cells at once
that I find very useful. First select all the cells, type the digits of the
number and then hold down CTRL whilst pressing ENTER.

Stephen

 

[Guest]

Holding the Ctrl key works - thanks!

***Another bit of info I should have supplied: if I drag 75-A, auto fill
copies. If I drag 75, auto fill creates a series. Perhaps the formatting of
the column would make a difference, but so far I haven't determined what
format makes a difference.

 

[Stephen]

75-A is (by definition) text, whereas 75 is a value. If you format as text
before entering data, all cells would be text and the response would have to
be as 75-A.

Stephen

 

[Dave Peterson]

I don't trust my memory to remember how excel works when I click and drag by
that fill button.

I just rightclick on that fill button and drag. When I let go, I get a bunch of
options asking me what I want done.