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Drag to Copy Cells
I'm using a Mac with o365. Here is my scenario:
- Make a column of ascending numbers 1 - 10 (A1 - A10)
- Select the cell containing the 10 (A10)
- Grab the bottom right corner of that cell
- Drag down 10 more cells.
You will either end up with a column holding numbers 1 - 20, or a column holding 1 - 10 and ten more cells, each holding 10.
When you release the mouse, you also see a small drop-down menu which, if you have 1 - 20, an option to just copy the cell, and a few other options.
Forgive my lack of proper terminology, but my current default on this document is to copy the cell and not to increment the numbers in the cells. My little drop-down after I copy does not give me the option to increment the numbers.
So, the question: How can I switch my default to not just copy, but to copy and increment?
Ah...I have found the issue. Just because a cell contains numbers, as well as text, it is not always eligible to be made into a series. That explains it.
When in doubt, right-click and drag.
I don't have a golden rule for when Excel will decide to auto increment during a fill or not but if you WANT it to increment you will have much better success if you have a sequence that already increments highlighted before you drag the corner down. So in your example if you had 1-10 highlighted and pull the corner down it will increment and give you 1-20. If you only highlight 10 and pull down, not sure if/when it would or would not increment. If you specifically do NOT want it to increment (e.g. you want to fill down an item like "ABC123"), then if you Copy and then Paste into the whole range it will NOT increment.
hope those tips help
Ah...I have found the issue. Just because a cell contains numbers, as well as text, it is not always eligible to be made into a series. That explains it.
You are correct, sir. In this hypothetical scenario, I want to end up with 20 cells, each holding one number 1 - 20. That's the entire context.
Forgive my lack of comprehension, but what exactly do you mean by "copy AND increment" [emphasis added]?
I added the emphasis because the combination, frankly, doesn't make sense. Copying does not include incrementing; incrementing precludes copying. At least in my understanding of those two words.
So could you clarify
(a) what result you're seeking, and
(b) maybe what the larger context is here. What, in other words, is this part of? How will these copied OR incremented numbers be used, in connection with what larger endeavor?
I'm also on Macs with Office 365.
