Part I: Getting Started with Excel
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Tip
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. Access the Excel Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab, and place a
check mark on the option labeled Enable Fill Handle and Cell Drag-and-Drop. n
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 working with formulas. For example, if you’re working on a budget, you might create a for-
mula 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.Some cell and range operations — specifically inserting, pasting, and filling cells by dragging — result
in the display of a Smart Tag. A Smart Tag is a small square that when clicked, presents you with
options. For example, if you copy a range and then paste it to a different location, a Smart Tag appears
at the lower-right of the pasted range. Click the Smart Tag (or press Ctrl), and you see the options shown
in the figure here. These options enable you to specify how the data should be pasted, such as values
only or formatting only. In this case, using the Smart Tag is an alternative to using options in the Paste
Special dialog box. (Read more about Paste Special in the upcoming section, “Using the Paste Special
Dialog box.”)Some users find these Smart Tags helpful, and others think that they’re annoying. (Count me in the latter
group.) To turn off these Smart Tags, choose File ➪ Options and click the Advanced tab. Remove the
check mark from the two options labeled Show Paste Options Buttons and Show Insert Options Buttons.Using Smart Tags When Inserting and Pasting