Question

In cells B1 to B3 enter the following:
A
1
Date Number
2 20-Jan-20 3,12
3 21-Jan-20
6.24
Select cells B2 and B3 then use the fill handle to drag
down to row 20. What is the value in B15?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

2013 and lower

Whether you just want to copy the same value down or need to get a series of numbers or text values, fill handle in Excel is the feature to help. It's an irreplaceable part of the AutoFill option. Fill handle is a small square that appears in the bottom-right corner when you select a cell or range.

See the fill handle in the bottom-right corner of your selection

It may be hard to believe that this tiny, almost unnoticeable part of selection gives you numerous helpful options to use every day.

The scheme is simple. Whenever you need to get a series of values in the adjacent cells, just click on the Excel fill handle to see a small black cross and drag it vertically or horizontally. As you release the mouse button, you will see the selected cells filled with the values depending on the pattern you specify.

See your range being autofilled

One of the most popular questions is how to autofill numbers is Excel. This can also be dates, times, days of the week, months, years and so on. In addition, Excel's AutoFill will follow any pattern.

For example, if you need to continue a sequence, just enter the first two values into the starting cell and grab the fill handle to copy the data across the specified range.

Use Excel AutoFill to continue a number sequence

You can also auto-populate any arithmetic progression sequence where the difference between numbers is constant.

Use Excel AutoFill to get any arithmetic progression sequence

It will even alternate sequences if the selected cells don't relate to each other numerically, like on the picture below.

Get a series of values not numerically related

And it goes without saying, that you can use the AutoFill option to copy a value across your range. I think you already know how to make the same value appear in the adjacent cells in Excel. You just need to enter this number, text, or their combination, and drag it across the cells using the fill handle.

Presume you have already heard of the features I described above. I still believe, some of them appeared new to you. So go on reading to learn even more about this popular yet under-explored tool.

All AutoFill Excel options - see the fill handle at its best

Double-click to automatically populate a large range

Suppose you have a huge database with names. You need to assign a serial number to each name. You can do it in a flash by entering the first two numbers and double-clicking the Excel fill handle.

Double-click the fill handle to populate large ranges

Note. This hint will only work if you have values to the left or right of the column you need to fill as Excel looks at the adjacent column to define the last cell in the range to fill. Please also keep in mind that it will populate by the longest column in case you have values to the right and to the left of the empty range you want to fill down.

Excel - Fill down a series of values that contain text

It's not a problem for the AutoFill option to copy across the values that contain both text and numerical values. Moreover, Excel is quite smart to know that there are only 4 quarters or that some ordinal numbers need the corresponding letter suffixes.

Autofill values that contain both text and number

Create custom list series for autofilling

If you use the same list every now and then, you can save it as a custom one and make Excel fill handle populate cells with the values from your custom list automatically. Please follow the steps below to do this:

Enter the header and complete your list.

Enter the values for your custom list in excel together with the header

Note. A custom list can only contain text or text with numerical values. If you need it to store only numbers, please create a list of digits formatted as text.

Select the range with your list.

In Excel 2003 go to Tools -> Options -> Custom Lists tab.

In Excel 2007 click on the Office button -> Excel options -> Advanced -> scroll down till you see the Edit Custom Lists… button in the General section.

In Excel 2010-2013 click File -> Options -> Advanced -> scroll to the General section to find the Edit Custom Lists… button.

Click on this button to import your custom list

Since you already selected the range with your list, you will see its address in the Import list from cells: field.

See your range address in the Import list from cells field

Press the Import button to see your series in the Custom Lists window.

Press the Import button to see your series in the Custom Lists window

Finally click OK -> OK to save the list.