Question

Auto Fill

Asked by: rgarzakavo

If I am typing same data in Excel and want it to auto fill on it's own after I type the first couple of characters, how do I make this happen.  I do not want to use copy/paste.

Example - Column A
  Continually typing 635B (Row 1, 2, 3)
By row 4, I would like Excel to fill after I type the number "6"  -  It should fill with 635B.

How do I do this?

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Asked On
2007-11-16 at 08:56:42ID22965993
Tags

characters

Topic

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Software

Participating Experts
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Answers

 

by: matthewspatrickPosted on 2007-11-16 at 09:01:48ID: 20299620

Autofil only works on text.  When you start with numeric characters, Excel will lay off, because
it is not clear yet that you're entering text.

You could try setting the number formatting for that column to text...

 

by: sebastienmPosted on 2007-11-16 at 09:10:50ID: 20299681

Hi,

In menu Tools > Options, tab Edit, check 'Enable AutoComplete for cell values'.

Now, there may be an issue in your case based on the xl documentation for AutoComplete:
"If the first few characters that you type in a cell match an existing entry in that column, Microsoft Excel automatically enters the remaining characters for you. Excel automatically completes only those entries that contain text or a combination of text and numbers. Entries that contain only numbers, dates, or times are not completed."

While it should work with cell containing combination of text and numbers (like your 635B), it doesn't work for me on xl2k. However if I already have 'aaa' in a cell, typing the first 'a' autocomplete the full 'aaa'.
Could you please check on your version of excel (if you haven't already done so) that AutoComplete works for 'aaaa' but not for '635B'?

Regards,
Sebastien

 

by: rgarzakavoPosted on 2007-11-16 at 09:14:59ID: 20299720

It will work with entry beginning with text - you are correct.

I tried by entering A500 - and excel happily filled in the 500 when I entered "a" in the next field.

It does not like data entered that begins with a digit.  I understand why - once you guys said it aloud, it make sense.

Thanks to all!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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