cell numbers in sequence

[Guest]

I'm trying to format my spreadsheets so that when I'm working with numbered lists, the numbers stay in sequence. If I delete or add rows or if I type a number in a cell, then pull the fill handle, the numbers fill in sequence. For example, if I have a list of 10 items, if I delete row number 5, the rows move up, but the numbers automatically stay in sequence, now 1 through 9, not 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, etc.... I've worked on spreadsheets before that did this and I couldn't turn it off, but now I'm working with spreadsheets that don't do it, and I need to turn it on. This helps so much with formulas

Please help!!!!!

 

[JE McGimpsey]

One way:

A1: =ROW()

and copy down.

If you want to start on a different row, adjust as necessary:

A3: =ROW()-2

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
in A1 enter the following formula
=IF(B1<>"",1,"")
in A2 enter
=IF(B2<>"",MAX($A$1:OFFSET($A2,-1,0))+1,"")

and copy down