Excel 2000

Filling Formulas

Once you've created a working formula, don't waste time typing it over and over again. Simply fill it to the other cells. In order to do this, you will need to recognize the mouse pointer's various shapes. When you move the mouse pointer around the Excel window, it changes shape and function.

If you're going to copy a formula to a surrounding cell, you can use the Fill method. The square box in the lower right corner of the cell pointer is the fill handle.



To Use the Fill Handle:

• Click on the cell that contains the formula.
• Position the mouse pointer on the lower right corner of the beginning of the cell pointer (fill handle). The mouse pointer becomes a black crosshair.
• Click and hold the left mouse button and drag to select the next cells to be filled in. The cells are now selected.
• Release the mouse button. The formula is copied.

In Excel, the references change as the formula is copied. (Remember, you use references to identify cells containing the numbers you want to calculate in a formula.)

You can also use copy and paste to copy a formula to other cells. Click next to learn more about the copy and paste method.