How to Auto Fill Date in Excel?
Are you looking to save time while working with Excel? Auto filling cells with dates can be a huge help when working with large datasets and long formulas. In this article, we’ll show you how to quickly and easily auto fill dates in Excel, so you can save time and get back to your other tasks. Read on to learn more about this time-saving feature!
Auto-fill Date in Excel: To auto-fill dates in Excel, you first need to enter the first date in the series. Then, you can use the Fill Handle to drag the series of dates down the column. The Fill Handle is a small square located in the bottom-right of a selected cell. Click and hold the Fill Handle until the cursor changes to a plus sign. Drag the Fill Handle to the end of the series. The dates will auto-fill in the cells.
- Step 1: Enter the first date in the series.
- Step 2: Select the cell containing the first date.
- Step 3: Find and click the Fill Handle in the bottom-right corner.
- Step 4: Drag the Fill Handle to the end of the series.
- Step 5: Release the mouse button to auto-fill the dates.
What is AutoFill in Microsoft Excel?
Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet application used by millions of people around the world to create and manage data. One of the most powerful features of Excel is its AutoFill function, which allows users to quickly populate cells with data from a range of sources. AutoFill can be used to quickly fill cells with data from existing cells, a list of values, or even formulas. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to use AutoFill in Excel to quickly populate cells with dates.
AutoFill is a feature in Excel that allows users to quickly fill a range of cells with data from a variety of sources. This can include data from existing cells, a list of values, or even formulas. AutoFill is particularly useful when it comes to entering dates into cells, as it can help automate the process and save users time when entering large amounts of data.
How to AutoFill Dates in Microsoft Excel?
There are two main ways to use AutoFill to enter dates into Excel. The first is to manually enter a range of dates into the cells. To do this, simply select the starting date and end date in the cells, then click and drag the AutoFill handle (the small square in the bottom right-hand corner of the selection) to fill the range of cells with the selected dates.
The second option is to use the AutoFill Options menu. This menu can be accessed by right-clicking on the selection and selecting “Fill” from the menu. From here, users can select a variety of options, such as “Fill Months” or “Fill Years”, to quickly fill a range of cells with dates.
AutoFill with Keyboard Shortcuts
In addition to using the AutoFill handle or the AutoFill Options menu, users can also use keyboard shortcuts to quickly fill cells with dates. The most commonly used shortcut is “Ctrl+D”, which will fill the selected cells with the same value as the cell above them. This shortcut can be used to quickly fill a range of cells with dates.
Another useful shortcut is “Ctrl+Shift+:”, which will enter the current date into the selected cell. This shortcut can be used to quickly enter current dates into cells without having to manually enter them.
AutoFill with Formulas
In addition to entering dates manually or using keyboard shortcuts, users can also use formulas to automatically populate cells with dates. The most commonly used formula is the “TODAY()” function, which will enter the current date into the cell.
Formulas can also be used to enter dates in the future. To do this, users can use the “DATE()” function, which takes three arguments: the year, month, and day. This formula can be used to quickly fill cells with dates in the future.
Using AutoFill to Create Custom Date Formats
In addition to entering dates into cells, AutoFill can also be used to quickly create custom date formats. To do this, users can select a range of cells and then click and drag the AutoFill handle to fill the cells with the desired format. This can be used to quickly create custom date formats such as “MM/DD/YYYY” or “DD/MM/YYYY”.
Using AutoFill with Dates from Other Cells
In addition to entering dates manually or using formulas, AutoFill can also be used to populate cells with dates from other cells. To do this, users can select a range of cells and then click and drag the AutoFill handle to fill the cells with the dates from the source cells. This can be used to quickly populate cells with dates from other sheets or even other files.
Using AutoFill to Fill Cells with Incremental Dates
Finally, AutoFill can also be used to quickly fill cells with incremental dates. To do this, users can select a range of cells and then click and drag the AutoFill handle to fill the cells with incremental dates. This can be used to quickly create a timeline or to populate cells with dates that increment by a certain amount of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Auto Fill Date in Excel?
Answer:
To auto fill dates in an Excel worksheet, you will need to first enter a starting date and then a specific number of days that you would like to add. You can then use the Auto Fill feature to quickly fill in the dates for you.
First, enter the starting date in the first cell. Then enter the number of days you want to add in the next cell. For example, if you enter the date “1/1/2020” in the first cell and “7” in the second cell, you will get “1/8/2020.”
Next, select both cells and drag the fill handle (the small black square at the bottom right of the selection) to the range of cells you would like to fill. The starting date will be incremented by the number of days you entered in the second cell.
If you want to fill dates in a non-linear fashion, such as every other day, you can use the Fill Series command. First, select the range of cells you want to fill. Then, go to the Home tab and click on the Fill drop down menu. Select the Series option, then select “Date” from the list of choices. Enter the starting date and the increment value for the series.
What is the shortcut to Auto Fill Date in Excel?
Answer:
The shortcut to auto fill dates in Excel is to select the starting date and the number of days to add, then drag the fill handle (the small black square at the bottom right of the selection) to the range of cells you would like to fill. You can also use the Fill Series command if you want to fill dates in a non-linear fashion. To do this, select the range of cells you want to fill, go to the Home tab and click on the Fill drop down menu, select the Series option, then select “Date” from the list of choices and enter the starting date and the increment value for the series.
Can I Auto Fill Months in Excel?
Answer:
Yes, you can auto fill months in Excel. To do this, enter the starting month in the first cell and the number of months you want to add in the next cell. For example, if you enter the month “January” in the first cell and “3” in the second cell, you will get “April” in the next cell. Then select both cells and drag the fill handle to the range of cells you would like to fill. The starting month will be incremented by the number of months you entered in the second cell.
Can I Auto Fill Years in Excel?
Answer:
Yes, you can auto fill years in Excel. To do this, enter the starting year in the first cell and the number of years you want to add in the next cell. For example, if you enter the year “2020” in the first cell and “5” in the second cell, you will get “2025” in the next cell. Then select both cells and drag the fill handle to the range of cells you would like to fill. The starting year will be incremented by the number of years you entered in the second cell.
Can I Auto Fill Time in Excel?
Answer:
Yes, you can auto fill time in Excel. To do this, enter the starting time in the first cell and the number of minutes you want to add in the next cell. For example, if you enter the time “12:00 PM” in the first cell and “30” in the second cell, you will get “12:30 PM” in the next cell. Then select both cells and drag the fill handle to the range of cells you would like to fill. The starting time will be incremented by the number of minutes you entered in the second cell.
Can I Auto Fill Weekdays in Excel?
Answer:
Yes, you can auto fill weekdays in Excel. To do this, enter the starting weekday in the first cell and the number of days you want to add in the next cell. For example, if you enter the weekday “Monday” in the first cell and “7” in the second cell, you will get “Monday” in the next cell. Then select both cells and drag the fill handle to the range of cells you would like to fill. The starting weekday will be incremented by the number of days you entered in the second cell.
Can I Auto Fill Custom Dates in Excel?
Answer:
Yes, you can auto fill custom dates in Excel. To do this, enter the starting date in the first cell and the number of days you want to add in the next cell. For example, if you enter the date “1/1/2020” in the first cell and “7” in the second cell, you will get “1/8/2020” in the next cell. Then select both cells and drag the fill handle to the range of cells you would like to fill. The starting date will be incremented by the number of days you entered in the second cell. You can also use the Fill Series command if you want to fill dates in a non-linear fashion.
AutoFill Dates in Excel – Days, Weekdays, Months & Years
In conclusion, auto filling dates in Excel is a great way to make your spreadsheets more efficient and organized. With the help of the Fill Handle, you can easily fill in a series of dates in your worksheet with just a few clicks. Once you master the basics of auto filling dates in Excel, you will be able to save time and improve your productivity.
