Leading the way in Microsoft Office Development

Step 1 - Check your Options

The AutoFill smart tag will not appear unless you have chosen to display the Paste Option buttons.

Check your (Tools > Options)(Edit tab, Show Paste Options buttons).

Step 2 - Displaying the Smart tag

Using the smart tag is an alternative to dragging the fill handle with the right mouse button and displaying the Shortcut menu.

The options on this smart tag correspond directly to the first four options on the shortcut menu.

This smart tag will appear automatically after you release the Fill Handle.

Move the mouse over the button and over the drop-down arrow to display the menu.

Copy Cells -

Fill Series -

Fill Formatting Only -

Fill Without Formatting -

Step 3 - Copy Cells

Dragging the Fill Handle with a single cell highlighted will copy the value to all subsequent cells.

Using the Copy Cells option lets you copy the values from a range of cells.

This can also be done with a range of cells using the Copy Cells option.

Enter the values 15, 30 and 45 into cells "B2", "B3" and "B4" respectively. Drag the fill handle and select Copy Cells.

This is discussed in more detail on the Copy Cells page.

Step 4 - Fill Series

Fill Series is the default when this tag is not displayed.

Enter the values 15, 30 and 45 into cells "B2", "B3" and "B4" respectively. Drag the fill handle and select Fill Series.

This is discussed in more detail on the Fill Series page.

Step 5 - Fill Formatting Only

This feature can be used to copy the cell formats onto other cells.

Format the cells "B2", "B3" and "B4" in a different colour. Drag the fill handle and select Fill Formatting Only

This is discussed in more detail on the Fill Formatting page.

Step 6 - Fill Without Formatting

This allows you to copy just the values that were in the original selection and not the associated formatting.

If more than one cell is selected then the sequence of formatting will be continued.

Format the cells "B2", "B3" and "B4" in a different colour. Drag the fill handle and select Fill Formatting Only

Step 7 - Things to Remember

You do not have to create a custom list if you enter the full series into the first cells.