- •Solutions for Excel How to accomplish a common task in a fast, flexible and efficient way
- •Create sequential table rows and columns
- •Problem
- •Solution
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- •Fill blank range
- •Problem
- •Solution
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- •Fill table with formulas with row and column inputs
- •Problem
- •Solution
- •Formula syntax
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- •Convert formula to its results
- •Problem
- •Solution
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- •A legible formula
- •Problem
- •Solution
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- •A dynamic date range
- •Problem
- •Solution
- •Formula syntax
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- •Check for a condition
- •Problem
- •Solution
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- •Select one from a range of options
- •Problem
- •Solution
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- •Combine data from several data ranges in one
- •Problem
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- •Make 1 look as "q1"
- •Problem
- •Solution
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- •Solution
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- •Sum or count only certain values in a range
- •Problem
- •Solution
- •Formula syntax
- •Find data in a table
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- •Solution
- •Formula syntax
- •Create a random password
- •Problem
- •Solution
- •Formula syntax
- •Get data from a cell n columns to the left or right
- •Problem
- •Solution
- •Formula syntax
- •A drop-down list of values
- •Problem
- •Solution
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- •Compare positive and negative numbers
- •Problem
- •Solution
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- •Let formula read address name from an external cell
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Fill blank range
Tools: keyboard navigation and selection shortcuts
Level: beginner
Problem
You have a table that you need to fill out with a common formula.
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
1 |
Order |
Price |
Quantity |
Total |
2 |
1 |
20 |
1 |
=B2*C2 |
3 |
2 |
20 |
2 |
|
4 |
3 |
20 |
3 |
|
5 |
4 |
20 |
4 |
|
6 |
5 |
20 |
5 |
|
7 |
6 |
20 |
6 |
|
8 |
7 |
20 |
7 |
|
9 |
8 |
20 |
8 |
|
10 |
9 |
20 |
9 |
|
11 |
10 |
20 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2001 |
2000 |
20 |
2000 |
|
What would you do next? Granted, you can use fill handle and copy the formula down but once the spreadsheet starts scrolling down, you can pick up too much speed and wind up copying too little, or possibly, way too much.
There is a faster and nearly effortless solution that does not use mouse at all.
Solution
Make an 'anchor' at the bottom of your list where it ends and copy down to it. We start at cell D2 and will use combinations of Ctrl and arrow keys (Left, Right, Up, Down) to jump to borders between non-empty and empty cells.
Active cell D2.
Ctrl-C. Copy the formula (or whatever this cell contains).
Ctrl-Left. Cursor moves to the left border of block of non-empty cells where you currently in. This happens to be the first column that is already filled down as much as you need. Cell A2.
Ctrl-Down. Cursor moves to the bottom border of block of non-empty cells. Cell A2001.
Ctrl-Right. As you may already guessed, the cursor jumps to the right border of the text block. If you only have a couple of lines like in this example, a few bangs on the Right key might be faster, but if your block has several or several dozen columns, this makes more sense. Use your judgment based on context of your spreadsheet. Cell C2001.
Release Ctrl. One more Right key press to return to column D. Cell D2001.
Enter. The content you copied is pasted in the last cell. You have now filled the first and the last cells of the range you need to fill.
Ctrl-C. Copy the formula in D2001.
Ctrl-Shift-Up. This command with make the cursor jump to next non-empty cell. But since you now have the Shift key pressed too, the space between Cell 201 and Cell D2 will all be selected.
Enter. The range you selected is filled with formula. Mission accomplished.
Initially, it will take you some time, but as your fingers learn the key positions, it will take you 1-2 seconds, while your mind will be totally free from thinking what you do. All you will think of is "fill this space", and before you finish this thought, the task will be done.