To fill the linear series, we select “Fill Series” from the popup menu. The other four 1s are replaced with 2–5 and our linear series is filled. You can, however, do this without having to select Fill Series from the Auto Fill Options menu. Find best value and selection for your MAC TOOLS TECH SERIES TOOL BOX search on eBay. World's leading marketplace.
So when I want to extend a series or something along those lines, I can highlight a group of cells, then click on the bottom right corner of the highlighting box and drag down. Excel will then attempt to automatically extend the contents as well as it can. Is there a keyboard function that will allow me to do this? I like to use the keyboard to avoid repetitive mouse motions.
I can use the shift key and arrow keys to make a selection, but I don't know what (if any) key can trigger this function.
I also don't really know what this function is actually called.
zagrimsan17 Answers
You can use keyboard short cuts to get to anything that's on the Ribbon. Press Alt and then you can see the keystrokes next to each section. To bring up the Fill Series dialog box press Alt and then HFIS.
LernkurveYou're looking for 'Fill-Down' or 'Fill-Right'.
Select the range by moving to the cell to start with... then Shift+↓ or Shift+→ to where you want to fill the contents to... and then press Ctrl+D (to fill-down) or Ctrl+R (to fill-right).
Unfortunately, there is no shortcut key for fill-left or fill-up.
LingerUse Shift + ↓ to highlight where you want the series to go - must include the filled in cell that you want to key off of.
Alt + HFIS
Shift + TabF
Enter
(Inspired by the answers above and some trial and error)
MosesYou can also accomplish this with a macro.
- Go to View tab -> Macro -> 'Record Macro'
- Choose an optional name, for example Myautofill (no space in name!)
- Choose an optional shortcut, for example Ctrl+H
- Click OK to start recording the macro
- Go to Home tab -> Editing -> Fill -> Series
- For 'Series in' choose 'Columns', check the 'Trend' option, then click OK
- Go to View tab -> Macro -> 'Stop Recording'
- Your macro is ready! Select a range of cells and hit the shortcut you chose in step 3.
- Ctrl+C to copy the starting cell
- Select the target range (using Shift, Ctrl, arrows, etc)
- Ctrl+V to paste
The target range will be filled appropriately.
As answered by TheCompWiz, using Ctrl+D and Ctrl-R would be another method. Ctrl+C/V would let you to fill to any direction and anywhere; while Ctrl+D/R requires less keystrokes.
For Excel 2016 (and I presume 2013), I added it to the Quick Access Toolbar (I got rid of the Save button because CTRL-S does that), and I replaced it with Fill Series.
- Go to the Home ribbon
- In the Editing group, click on 'Fill'
- Right-click on 'Series'
- Select 'Add to Quick Access Toolbar'
Now it should appear in the top left of the window. When you press ALT, a number should appear next to the new icon you've added. You can then customise the Quick Access Toolbar and put the 'Fill' option where you want.
I got rid of 'Save' and put 'Fill' there instead, so I can now enter the first two values (e.g. '1' in cell A1 and '2' in cell A2), then select those two and more cells below, and hit ALT, 1, and Enter. The selected cells should then be filled with the series. The mouse is no longer required for this task.

But would also have to change 'type' to autofill.. so use
Alt+H+F+I+S and then shift+tab+down+down+down and then enter
Shortcut to Fill-down (or fill-Right): First select Select what to fill down(or right) then
Option 1: To fill-down all the cells(till end of excel sheet): ( Shift + ( End Then ↓ ) ) Then ( Ctrl + D )To fill-Right: ( Shift + ( End Then → ) ) Then ( Ctrl + D )

Option 2: To fill-down: ( Shift + ( PgDown^N Then ↓ ) ) Then ( Ctrl + D )N= number of times you need to go down based on your need. You can also go down/up with aero keys or PgUp key if you need.
Fill the first column with 1 and then select the range in which you want to fill the series and then press Alt+H+F+I+S and then Enter... series will be filled.
Brad PattonType 1 in upper cell.
Type =1+(address of upper cell) then press enter.
Copy that cell and drag to last sell of required data .
Select that row and use paste special (Alt+E+S+V) to remove formula.
Assign 'Fill Series' to a position on the quick access toolbar. Let's say position 2 for this example.
Highlight the cell you want to fill down and the empty cells you want to fill - can be done using Shift+Arrow.
Now Alt+2(assigned QA position) then Enter.
Note - Highlight 2 cells plus the targets if you want Excel to infer the numeric series to fill.
Hope this helps and is a bit easier to execute than the Alt+x+y+z+a+b+c then Shift+d+e+f answers above.
Select cell, you want to fill down.
Select the range by SHIFT + arrows where you want to fill the contents to.
Press F2 to edit first selected cell.
Press CTRL+ENTER to fill area.
If you'd like to use Autofill, use this:
Alt + HFIS then Alt + F and finally Enter
Suppose you need to generate serial numbers in column A.
- Type 1 in the first cell i.e A1.
- Press
Down
key to move towards A2 . - Press
=
key , select cell A1 , add 1 to it likewise=A1+1
and hit theEnter
key.This will generate the number 2 - Now hold down the
shift
key and keep pressingdown
key till the last cell where you want to end your series. - Press
ctrl+d
to autodrag.
Finally you got your automated series of numbers!
Select cell, you want to fill down.

Select the range by Shift+Ctrl+End.
Press F2 to edit first selected cell.
Press Ctrl+Enter to fill area.
ScottYou cannot by default use any hotkey. But you can record for yourself macros. I did it keys Ctrl+Shift+D.
First select cells, you want to fill(with filled consecutive cells). Go View => Down arrow Macros => Record Macros.. On opened window you can fill any name, and any hotkey. After click ok. Select Home => Fill => Series => select AutoFill radio button then OK then go again to Macros from view menu and stop recording. Next time you can fill it by your hotkey. Good Luck!
When you start recording macros, it records all actions you do (to visual basic codes). So select cells before start recording. And don't forget stop it :)
This answer is for filling any series. As series don't contain formula, all above listed answers aren't helpful.(You can't write formula when you have series of Step 1, Step 2 and so on)Go to Fill --> Series --> Select Rows or Columns in Series in: and Autofill in Type --> Press OK.
That's it !
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Inputting numbers, text, and formulas in Excel spreadsheets can be tedious and prone to error if you enter each cell text or value separately. When you need to input the same data into a number of adjacent cells in a column, the Fill Down command can quickly perform the task by using just the keyboard. Alternatively, you can also use the AutoFill feature.
The information in this article applies to Excel versions 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, Excel Online, and Excel for Mac.
Use Fill Down to Duplicate the Data in a Cell
The Keyboard Method
The key combination that applies the Fill Down command is:
Follow these steps to see how to use Fill Down in your own Excel spreadsheets:
Type a number, such as 395.54, into cell D1 in an Excel spreadsheet.
Press and hold the Shift key on the keyboard.
Press and hold the Down Arrow key on the keyboard to extend the cell highlight from cell D1 to D7.Thenrelease both keys.
Press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard.
Press the D key on the keyboard.
Release both keys.
The Mouse Method
With most versions of Excel, you can use your mouse to select the cell that contains the number that you want to duplicate in the cells beneath it. You can then select the last cell of a range to highlight the first and last cells and all the cells between them.
Use the keyboard shortcutCtrl+D to copy the number that is in the first cell to all the selected cells.
Use AutoFill to Duplicate the Data in a Cell
Here's how to accomplish the same effect as the Fill Down command, but instead with the AutoFill feature:
Mac Tools Online
Type a number into a cell in an Excel spreadsheet.
Click and hold the fill handle in the bottom right corner of the cell that contains the number.
Drag the fill handle downward to select the cells that you want to contain the same number.
Release the mouse and the number is copied into each of the selected cells.
The AutoFill feature also works horizontally to copy a number of adjacent cells in the same row. Just click and drag the fill handle across the cells horizontally. When you release the mouse, the number is copied into each selected cell.
Fill Series Date
Instead of tediously retyping or copying and pasting a formula, select the box that contains the formula and use the AutoFill feature to accomplish the task.