Sure, Excel can fill in the months of the year. It can fill in the days of the week. It can fill in 1st period, 2nd period, 3rd period. But - what if YOU need to fill in something else? Perhaps a list of departments, customers, co-workers, accounts??? Excel is up to the task. Epsiode 432 will show you how to set up a custom list so that the fill handle can fill in the flavors of bagels from your local coffee shop.
This blog is the video podcast companion to the book, Learn Excel from MrExcel. Download a new two minute video every workday to learn one of the 277 tips from the book!
This blog is the video podcast companion to the book, Learn Excel from MrExcel. Download a new two minute video every workday to learn one of the 277 tips from the book!
Transcript of the video:
Welcome back to the Learn Excel netcast.
I'm Dr. Bill.
Dr. Bill handle that is.
Now, last week I talked about how to use the fill handle.
We said if you put in any kind of a value, January or date drag the fill handle it'll fill in the dates.
What if you have a list of work, that's not built into Excel. Like, for example, list of departments or a list of customers or a list of employees or a list of accounts or a list of anything you can add it to Excel.
So, that we type the first item in the list and drag the fill handle and it will fill in your list for you.
First thing you have to do is come up with a column that has your list.
So, I have a list here these are flavors from the local bagel shop.
I'm gonna select this list and go to Tools and then Options and go to the Custom lists tab.
Now, I've pre selected the list so, all I have to do is click import and you'll see that my custom list is now at the bottom of the custom list tab, click OK.
Come to a blank cell in the worksheet. I could type in any flavor drag the fill handle and Excel will fill in the rest of my flavors for me.
Certainly you can think of 2,3 or a dozen ways to use this tip in your job.
So, that you will never have to type in a list of departments, accounts, whatever you work with regularly.
Hey, thanks for stopping by.
We'll see you tomorrow.
Now, that's a big day, January 30th the day that Excel 2007 comes out.
I'll be at Best buy at 5 a.m. waiting to get my copy, but I'll make sure to be back here by 9 o'clock. So, that you have a net cast.
I'm Dr. Bill.
Dr. Bill handle that is.
Now, last week I talked about how to use the fill handle.
We said if you put in any kind of a value, January or date drag the fill handle it'll fill in the dates.
What if you have a list of work, that's not built into Excel. Like, for example, list of departments or a list of customers or a list of employees or a list of accounts or a list of anything you can add it to Excel.
So, that we type the first item in the list and drag the fill handle and it will fill in your list for you.
First thing you have to do is come up with a column that has your list.
So, I have a list here these are flavors from the local bagel shop.
I'm gonna select this list and go to Tools and then Options and go to the Custom lists tab.
Now, I've pre selected the list so, all I have to do is click import and you'll see that my custom list is now at the bottom of the custom list tab, click OK.
Come to a blank cell in the worksheet. I could type in any flavor drag the fill handle and Excel will fill in the rest of my flavors for me.
Certainly you can think of 2,3 or a dozen ways to use this tip in your job.
So, that you will never have to type in a list of departments, accounts, whatever you work with regularly.
Hey, thanks for stopping by.
We'll see you tomorrow.
Now, that's a big day, January 30th the day that Excel 2007 comes out.
I'll be at Best buy at 5 a.m. waiting to get my copy, but I'll make sure to be back here by 9 o'clock. So, that you have a net cast.