will introduce you to the exciting new pivot table features in Excel 2007. Create quick summaries and pivot charts, add impact with traffic light icons, design calculated fields, group dates and numbers.
Insert or Delete Cells with AutoFill
Here are a couple of quick tips for you — try them a few times today, and maybe you’ll still remember them by Monday.
I often have to insert a few cells in a list, so I select a range of cells, then choose Insert►Cells, click Shift cells down, then click OK. That method works very nicely, but it’s four clicks. I don’t have time for four clicks!
Recently I learned that I can press the Shift key and drag the AutoFill handle to insert cells. You can drag up, down, left or right, to insert cells in any direction. It’s much quicker than all those clicks!
You can use the same technique to delete cells too. Hold the Shift key and drag the Fill Handle over the selected cells, to grey out the cells.
October 3rd, 2008 at 3:56 am
Debra, thanks for that tip. I had no idea about that one, but I’ll be making heavy use of it.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:06 am
Nice tip.
I use control shift + to insert and control - to delete.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:13 am
Just a reminder to your readers that the same technique works for inserting and deleting rows. Select a row, hold down Shift, and drag the AutoFill handle located next to the row number.
Thanks for all the great articles and videos on your web site! I learn something new every time I visit.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Your website is great! I’ve been using it for a while now to learn all sorts of new things. Just discovered the blog, and I’m so excited to have access to information on a daily basis!
This tip is great, I’ll be using it frequently.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Thanks for your comments! Glad you like the tips, and relieved that I’m not the only person who didn’t know this shortcut.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
[...] Insert or Delete with Auto-Fill, This is a simple yet very useful tip. Debra at contextures blog says, I often have to insert a few cells in a list, so I select a range of cells, then choose Insert > Cells, click Shift cells down, then click OK. That method works very nicely, but it’s four clicks. I don’t have time for four clicks! Recently I learned that I can press the Shift key and drag the AutoFill handle to insert cells. You can drag up, down, left or right, to insert cells in any direction. It’s much quicker than all those clicks! [...]
April 24th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Is there a way to create a program that inserts cells automatically? For example I am working on a 4×4 matrix for names and adresses. Below that I have another 9×9 matrix for a different application.
When I am working with the 4×4 matrix and get to the fourth row, can I have a program that inserts a cell automaticallly? Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!