Weekly Computer Tip # 40
15 November 2003

Quickly repeating a formula down a column
(Microsoft Excel)

You've probably used Excel's fill handle (the small black square in the lower-right corner of a cell) to copy formulas into adjacent cells, by dragging the fill handle over the empty cells that you want to autofill. However,

Did you know ...

You can use the fill handle to automatically enter the formula in the whole column as long as cells in the adjacent column contain data.

Here's how:

1. Enter the formula as normal
2. Point to the fill handle (the small black square in the lower-right corner of the cell) containing the formula and double-click it.

Excel will automatically copy, paste, and calculate the formula (including any formatting) down the column and will stop at the first blank cell.

. (In the meantime, why not have a look at this month's