AutoFill
AutoFill is an interesting Excel feature that can be used to automatically fill in dates, time periods, and series of numbers. This includes numbers combined with text, such as Exam 1, Exam 2, etc. This feature saves you the trouble of typing a series of
Sean has created the formula for calculating percentage value, and manually calculates the results for a few students. But he wants to save time and quickly get the results for adjacent cells. So he uses AutoFill.
Fill Handle
Select cell I8. Can you see a small square-shaped box in the lower right corner of the rectangular border around the cell? This box is called the fill handle.
To use AutoFill
1. Select cell J4.
2. Move the cursor over the fill handle.
3. The cursor’s shape changes to a thin, black cross.
4. Press the left mouse button.
5. Keep it pressed and drag the cursor vertically down till you reach cell I17.
6. The percentage for the rest of the students are automatically calculated and displayed by Excel.
TIPS:
1. To AutoFill a number such as 1994 to 1995, 1996, and 1997 and so on, hold down on the Ctrl key while dragging the fill handle.
2. The starting value can contain more than one item that can be incremented.
3. To fill in increasing order, drag down or to the right.
4. To fill in decreasing order, drag up or to the left.
Activity: Open a new worksheet and in cells A1 to A12, AutoFill the series Jan-2005.
