# Seeking Excel Gurus: Auto Fill and Formulas **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-excel-gurus-auto-fill-and-formulas/445917 "2008-04-18T17:48:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kairos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@Kairos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kairos)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-excel-gurus-auto-fill-and-formulas/445917/1 "2008-04-18T17:48:56Z")
There has to be an easier way to do this… I am trying to create a spreadsheet that looks (essentially) like this: =b2 =b3 =b4 =b5 =b6 =b7 =c2 =c3 =c4 =c5 =c6 =c7 =d2 =d3 =d4 =d5 =d6 =d7 =e2 =e3 =e4 =e5 =e6 =e7 I would really rather _not_ type all of it out. I would _rather_ fill in the first cell and use the handy-dandy auto fill function to continue the series (either horizontally or vertically - I’m not picky.) However, if I type “=b2” into the first cell and auto fill horizontally, I get: =b2 =c2 =d2 =e2 =f2 =g2 and if I auto fill vertically I get: =b2 =b3 =b4 =b5 =b6 Is there any way to change auto fill so that it steps the **letters** horizontally and/or the **numbers** vertically? (FWIW: I’m using Excel 2007.) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-excel-gurus-auto-fill-and-formulas/445917/2 "2008-04-18T18:00:47Z")
I knew how to do this at one time, but forgot. Let me see if I can shake it out of my brain. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-excel-gurus-auto-fill-and-formulas/445917/3 "2008-04-18T18:06:34Z")
[This](http://www.ozgrid.com/News/excel-copy-rows.htm) gives a method. ANother option is to use the OFFSET function. ---
**Author:** ![Rattlehead02](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rattlehead02/32/3944_2.png) [@Rattlehead02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rattlehead02)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-excel-gurus-auto-fill-and-formulas/445917/4 "2008-04-18T18:07:05Z")
Try =B2 in the appropriate cell, then fill down and over. The makes an absolute reference. You could similarly do =$B$2 and no matter where you fill that it’s going to reference B2. _Edit_ upon closer inspection I see that my solution seemed too simple because, err, it is too simple to get the job done. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-excel-gurus-auto-fill-and-formulas/445917/5 "2008-04-18T18:08:40Z")
Try this: let it do it the way it’s doing it, then **Copy** and **Paste Special** using “transpose.” ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-excel-gurus-auto-fill-and-formulas/445917/6 "2008-04-18T20:04:00Z")
No! Just select “Fill Right”! It’ll populate the cells as you wish…just like the fill down, but it’ll go across. Very simple! ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-excel-gurus-auto-fill-and-formulas/445917/7 "2008-04-19T01:23:20Z")
**KneadToKnow** has got it right. Jinx, reread the OP!