Microsoft Office

Entering and Editing Worksheet Data 3
When this option is set, Excel supplies the decimal points for you automatically. For example, if you’ve
specified two decimal places, entering 12345 into a cell is interpreted as 123.45. To restore things to normal,
just uncheck the Automatically Insert a Decimal Point check box in the Excel Options dialog box.
Changing this setting doesn’t affect any values that you have already entered.
The fixed-decimal-places option is a global setting and applies to all workbooks (not just the
active workbook). If you forget that this option is turned on, you can easily end up entering
incorrect values — or some major confusion if someone else uses your computer.
CAUTION
Using AutoFill to enter a series of values
Excel’s AutoFill feature makes inserting a series of values or text items in a range of cells easy. It uses the
AutoFill handle (the small box at the lower right of the active cell). You can drag the AutoFill handle to
copy the cell or automatically complete a series.
If you drag the AutoFill handle while you press the right mouse button, Excel displays a shortcut menu
with additional fill options.
Figure 3.5 shows an example. I entered 1 into cell A1 and 3 into cell A2. Then I selected both cells and
dragged the fill handle down to create a linear series of odd numbers.
FIGURE 3.5
This series was created using AutoFill.
Using AutoComplete to automate data entry
Excel’s AutoComplete feature makes entering the same text into multiple cells easy. With AutoComplete,
you type the first few letters of a text entry into a cell, and Excel automatically completes the entry based on
other entries that you’ve already made in the column. Besides reducing typing, this feature also ensures that
your entries are spelled correctly and are consistent.
Here’s how it works. Suppose that you’re entering product information in a column. One of your products
is named Widgets. The first time that you enter Widgets into a cell, Excel remembers it. Later, when you
start typing Widgets in that same column, Excel recognizes it by the first few letters and finishes typing it
for you. Just press Enter, and you’re done. It also changes the case of letters for you automatically. If you
start entering widget (with a lowercase w) in the second entry, Excel makes the w uppercase to be consistent
with the previous entry in the column.
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