the Fill Series Command

The Fill Series command is used to fill the selected range of cells with a data series (numbers such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 2, 4, 6, 8) or dates (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri or Jan, Feb, Mar). The contents of the first cell or cells in each row or each column of the selection is used as the starting values for the series.

 

the Series Dialog Box

Choose Edit Fill Series to display the dialog box.

Series In
  • this will be preselected based upon the range you selected
  • in other words, if you have selected a row of cells, the Row button will be selected, etc.

 

Fill Series Dialog Box

The Fill Series Dialog Box
Type
  • Linear
    • calculates a series by adding the value in the [Step Value] box to each cell value in turn
      • for example
        • 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 (step value is 1)
        • 5,10,15,20,25 (step value is 5)
    • if the [Trend] check box is selected, the value in the Step Value box is ignored and a linear trend series is calculated.
      • first cell contains 12, second 24
      • range of 6 cells selected
      • series is 12,24,36,48,60,72 (since difference between 24 and 12 is 12, the step value is +12)
  • Growth
    • calculates a series by multiplying the value in the Step Value box by each cell value in turn
      • for example
        • 2,10,50,250 (step number is 5)
    • if the Trend check box is selected, the value in the Step Value box is ignored and a growth trend series is calculated.
  • Date
    • calculates a series of dates according to the option selected under Date Unit.
      • for example
        • first cell contains 1/10/03
        • Date Unit is Day
        • step value is 7
        • the series is then 1/17/03, 1/24/03, 1/31/03, etc.
  • AutoFill
    • fills blank cells in a selection with a series based on data included in the selection.
    • overrides any entry in the [Step Value] box or any selected [Date Unit] option.
      • for example
        • first cell contains January
        • select a range of 12 cells including the cell containing January
        • AutoFill fills in the series January, February, March, etc.

Date Unit

  • determines whether a series of dates will increase by days, weekdays, months, or years
  • used only when creating a date series

Step Value 

  • the amount by which a series increases or decreases
  • a positive number causes the series to increase; a negative number causes it to decrease.
Stop Value
  • the value at which you want the series to end.
  • if the selection is filled before the series reaches the stop value, the series stops at that point
  • the [Stop Value] box can be left blank

 

A Shortcut, the Fill Handle

Whenever a cell is selected, a nonprinting black border encloses the cell. The lower right-hand corner of that border is a small rectangle known as the “Fill Handle” which permits you to activate Excel's AutoFill feature. The AutoFill feature recognizes patterns or items that are traditionally entered as series, and it fills the range of cells intelligently, incrementing each cell in succession.

To use this feature: 

  • point the mouse pointer to the Fill Handle
  • the mouse pointer will change to a black plus sign as shown
  • with the plus sign active, drag in any direction over all cells that are to be filled
    • for some types of series a yellow information box will show you the information being filled into each cell as you drag
  • the filled information will not be displayed until you release the mouse button
 Fill Handle for Autofill

Try this

Do you think this would have worked to quickly enter the column labels Test 1, Test 2 and Test 3 in the gradesheet?

The Fill Handle can be used to copy and paste cell contents as previously described with the Edit Fill Up, Edit Fill Down, Edit Fill Left, and Edit Fill Right commands.

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last updated August 12, 2003