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There is more than one way to enter data into an Excel worksheet. Sometimes we stick to typing directly into cells, but there are different ways to enter data which can speed up your data entry work.

Type directly into a cell and add your data. You know a cell is active as it is highlighted with a darker border.
A2 is the active cell – it has a darker border so it stands out from the other cells
Use the formula bar. This is located under the ribbon. Type your data directly into the formula bar and press enter. You can navigate around the worksheet by typing the cell number directly into the Name box (located above the Column headings A – Z).
The Name Box shows that the active cell is A3.
Make the most of autocomplete. Excel will try to help you speed up your data entry by guessing what you are typing based on what’s in your worksheet. If the autocorrect option is right for you, just press enter.
Autocomplete is guessing that I am typing Simon, and I’ve just typed “Si”, I can press enter and the full name is entered for me.
Copy and paste – you may have cells that you can copy and paste data within the same worksheet – it can save you time formatting a sheet, or you can copy data to another worksheet within the workbook.
Let Autofill do the work. Autofill options can complete series of data, whether it is text or numbers. This saves lots of data entry when setting up worksheets, or entering data.

Computer Excel training can give you extra skills so you can speed up entering the data, so you can concentrate on using the information you’ve gathered. https://www.stl-training.co.uk/excel-2007-introduction.php

Autofill is rapidly becoming a new trick for me today. I’ve used it to add weekdays, months of the year, and numbering columns. But there is more to it than that and Excel offers a range of Autofill options.

To get the full list of options, you need to find the Auto Fill Options button. In Excel 2010 this is located in the Home tab, in the Editing section.

Tip: If you use Autofill a lot, add it to your quick access toolbar for extra speedy autofilling!

Autofill excel online courses — Autofill is hidden in the editing section in the Home tab.

Autofill will give you a list of options depending on the type of data you are using. In Excel this will include anything from text, to numbers and formulas. It does more than just series in text or numbers.

When you are using autofill, the fill handle appears as a black square at the bottom right of the active cell.
Autofill options can also appear as a shortcut menu. To view it, you need to click on the right mouse button, and drag the fill handle to an adjacent cells. Excel will give you a list of options to use.

What can Autofill do? With Autofill, you can do the following:

Copy Cells – a quick way to copy the content from one cell into more cells . For example a member of staff’s name or department.
Autofill will copy text to save you typing it manually
Fill Series – This can even include a combination of text and a number. I could type Staff Member 1, and then use the Fill handle to complete the series automatically. This is also useful for common series such as business quarters, and Excel will recognise the sequence even if you use standard abbreviations such as Qtr 1, Qtr 2, Qtr 3, Qtr 4.
Autofill text and number sequence
Fill Formatting Only – a simple example could be filling a series of cells with a colour.
Autofill a format to save time
Fill Without Formatting – for when you want to autofill without the formatting.
Fill Days – you can add days of the week including weekends. Remember you can use the full word, or standard abbreviation and Excel will follow the series.
Days of the week including weekends
Fill Weekdays – you can autofill working days of the week excluding weekends.
This is very cool. I can autofill dates excluding the weekends.
Fill Months – and you can use the full word or a standard abbreviation for the month, and Excel will autofill the sequence.
No matter what format I use, Autofill will follow the sequence.
Fill Years – whichever format you are using, Excel will copy that format to fill years.
Autofill years – in super-quick time
Fill Dates – I can type in a date (whichever my preferred format is) and I can then fill the dates across a row or down a column.
Autofill dates – brilliant timesaver

You can pick up Excel skills using excel courses online and can boost your skills and your business by attending one of our instructor-led Excel courses https://www.stl-training.co.uk/microsoft/excel-training-london.php

STL – Blog

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Five ways to enter Data in Excel

Get more out of Autofill in Excel – What can it do?