About filling in data based on adjacent cells

You can quickly fill in several types of data series by selecting cells and dragging the fill handle or by using the Series command (point to Fill on the Edit menu, and then click Series).

Copy data within a row or column    By dragging the fill handle of a cell, you can copy the contents of a cell to other cells in the same row or column.

Fill in a series of numbers, dates, or other items    Microsoft Excel can automatically continue a series of numbers, number/text combinations, dates, or time periods based on a pattern you establish. For example, the initial selections in the following table are extended as shown. Items separated by commas are in adjacent cells.

If the selection contains numbers, you can control whether to create a linear series or a growth series.

Create a custom fill series    You can create a custom fill series for frequently used text entries, such as your company's sales regions.