Computer Training

Excel's Fill Handle

Open Excel and try these three tips:

Click on the video icon for a demonstration.

1. Increment a cell's value by one
   1. Type the number "1" in the first open cell, and then press Enter key.
   2. Click back in the cell and then place the cursor on the fill handle.
   3. Hold the Ctrl key down while dragging the fill handle over several adjacent cells and then release the mouse. The cells are now incremented by one.
2. Increment a cell's value by more than one
   1. Repeat prior steps 1. a and 1.b.
   2. Right-click on the fill handle of the cell containing the data and the drag over several adjacent cells.
   3. Release the mouse button to access the Smart Tag menu "Auto Fill Options."
   4. Click on the command "Series," type the number 5 in the Step value input box and then click on OK. The cells are now incremented by 5.
3. Auto Fill Options
   1. Format an open cell to accept the date format. Click on the menus Format | Cells, and then tab Number | Date, choose the first type listed.
   2. Click on the button OK.
   3. Type the current date "11/20/2006" and then press Enter. Drag the fill handle across the next five cells. Click on the shortcut menu Auto Fill Options, leave Fill Series checked and then select Fill Months. The 20th of each month is now displayed.