ENTERING DATA

There are many ways to enter data into a spread sheet. Check out the section of the Excel Help files that meet your need.

Where to look in the Excel help index

Sub-Topic

From a keyboard

 

From a text file

 

Spreading data

 

Editing data

 
Keywords and phrases to search for in Excel Help enter  comma  autofill  paste special 
tips on entering  how to import a text file into Microsoft Excel  fill handle  add cells 
enter the same data into several cells  separate text across cells  fill in a series of numbers, dates, or other items   
copy only values, formulas, comments, or cell formats       
keyboard shortcuts        

Tricks and catches

Moving around the spreadsheet

When you enter data from the keyboard, there are several ways to validate the entry and move to the next cell.

Entering the same data in a range of cells

Select the range of cells. Enter the data from the keyboard. It will be displayed in one of the cells. Press CTRL+ENTER to validate: the data is then displayed in the every selected cell.

Importing text files

When you want to open a text file or a file created with another application than Excel, the file may not be visible in the "open" dialog box, even though you are browsing the right folder. Use the list of file types located at the bottom of the open dialog box to display "all files" or the files from the type you are looking for.

Filling in data based on adjacent cells

To spread data into adjacent cells or create a series, use the fill handle. It is located at the bottom right corner of the selection. Click on it with the right mouse button to choose manually how the data are filled in. Click on it with the left button to fill in the cells directly.

See the screen images on filling cells for more detail

Do's and Don'ts

Do's

Don't's
Do use the "fill" command or the "fill handle" to generate a series of data  Don't enter series of data manually 
Do enter data in a range of cells all at once   Don't enter same data several times 
Do import text files into excel   Don't copy and paste values from the text file 
Do change columns to rows automatically using the paste special command and its transpose option.   Don't transpose a table or group of cells manually 
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Created: 10 January 2002
Last modified: Monday, 22-Jul-2002 09:37:48 EST
Authorised by: Graham Moore

Maintained by: Graham Moore, Department of Civil and Enviromental Engineering
Email grahamam@unimelb.edu.au.

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