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University of Wyoming

Excel
AutoFill

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Introduction

Number Series

Days of the Week

Month

Dates

Introduction

There are many times when a series of numbers, months, or week days are used in a spreadsheet.  Excel has a feature called AutoFill which quickly completes a series of data by entering the first two values.  The following series are completed automatically after the first value is entered.

First Value Entered        Series Completed With

  • Sunday                    Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, ...
  • 1/10/2005                1/11/2005, 1/12/2005, 1/13/2005, ...
  • Qtr 1                        Qtr 2, Qtr 3, Qtr 4, ...
  • January                    February, March, April, May, ...

The series is completed with abbreviations when they are used.  For example, when Sun is used as the first value, the series is completed with Mon, Tue, and Wed.  A series can be done across rows or columns.

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Number Series

Complete a series of numbers by 5's (5, 10, 15, 20, etc.).  Enter the first two numbers, and let Excel complete the series.

  1. Click the cell where the series starts.
  2. Type 5, and press Enter.
  3. Type 10 in the next cell, and press Enter.
  4. Select the two cells containing the numbers.
  5. Click and drag the fill handle until the desired range of numbers displays.  See Figure 1.  A screen tip displays showing each number in the series while dragging the file handle.
  6. Release the mouse button.

Figure 1. Fill Handle

Figure 1.  Fill Handle

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Days of the Week

  1. Click the cell where the series starts.
  2. Type Sunday or Sun.
  3. Click and drag the fill handle until the desired range of days displays.  See Figure 1.   A screen tip displays showing each day in the series while dragging the file handle.
  4. Release the mouse button.

Note:  A series of days can begin with any day of the week.

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Month

  1. Click the cell where the series starts.
  2. Type January or Jan.
  3. Click and drag the fill handle until the desired range of months displays.  See Figure 1.   A screen tip displays showing each month in the series while dragging the file handle.
  4. Release the mouse button.

Note:  A series of months can begin with any month.

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Dates

  1. Click the cell where the series starts.
  2. Type the beginning date.
  3. Click and drag the fill handle until the desired range of dates displays.  See Figure 1.   A screen tip displays showing the dates in the series while dragging the file handle.
  4. Release the mouse button.

Formatting Dates

  1. Highlight the cell range containing the dates.
  2. Click Format > Cells.
  3. Click the Number tab.
  4. Click Date in the Category list.
  5. Select the desired date format.
  6. Click OK.

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Updated 09/15/2006