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June 16, 2023

How to use the Fill function in Excel

You typed “January”, but the rest of the monthly headings can be automatically completed, using the Fill Handle to enter data, following the pattern it recognizes in your existing cell data:

1) Select the B2 cell with the “January” heading

2) Move the mouse to the bottom-right corner of the cell to see the + Fill Handle appear

3) Click the Fill Handle and drag over adjacent cells to select them, then release the mouse button to fill those cells

4) Click the Auto Fill Options button and change when necessary, to copy cell contents or to fill with or without formatting

Excel recognizes various entry types. If you start with “Jan” rather than “January”, adjacent cells fill with “Feb”, “Mar”, “Apr”, etc.

5) Select cell B4, and fill cells C4:G4 with a copy of B4. Repeat for B6 to C6:G6, and for B13 to C13:G13. Select the block of cells B8:B9, and fill cells C8:G9

You can also use the right-click menu to edit (cut/copy/delete) a selection of cells and to insert copied cells at another location. Just select the cell(s) with the mouse and right-click to see the options available.