Part I: Getting Started with Excel
If the mouse pointer doesn’t turn into an arrow when you point to the border of a cell or range, you need to make a
change to your settings. Choose File ➪ Options to display the Excel Options dialog box, select the Advanced tab, and
place a check mark on the option labeled Enable Fill Handle and Cell Drag-and-Drop.Copying to adjacent cells
Often, you need to copy a cell to an adjacent cell or range. This type of copying is quite
common when you’re working with formulas. For example, if you’re working on a budget,
you might create a formula to add the values in column B. You can use the same formula to
add the values in the other columns. Rather than re-enter the formula, you can copy it to
the adjacent cells.Excel provides additional options for copying to adjacent cells. To use these commands,
activate the cell that you’re copying and extend the cell selection to include the cells to
which you’re copying. Then issue the appropriate command from the following list for one-
step copying:■ (^) Home ➪ Editing ➪ Fill ➪ Down (or Ctrl+D) copies the cell to the selected range
below.
■ (^) Home ➪ Editing ➪ Fill ➪ Right (or Ctrl+R) copies the cell to the selected range to
the right.
■ (^) Home ➪ Editing ➪ Fill ➪ Up copies the cell to the selected range above.
■ Home ➪ Editing ➪ Fill ➪ Left copies the cell to the selected range to the left.
None of these commands places information on either the Windows Clipboard or the Office
Clipboard.
You also can use AutoFill to copy to adjacent cells by dragging the selection’s fill handle (the small square in the bot-
tom-right corner of the selected cell or range). Excel copies the original selection to the cells that you highlight while
dragging. For more control over the AutoFill operation, click the AutoFill Options button that appears after you’ve
released the mouse button, or drag the fill handle with the right mouse button. Each method shows a shortcut menu
with additional options, although not the same menu.