• Automatic sequential row numbering (Excel 2000)

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    WSSatiria
    AskWoody Lounger
    August 4, 2003 at 7:41 pm #391522

    Is it possible to automatically number cells in a spreadsheet, like you can/would autonumber paragraphs in a Word document?

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    • WSsqdncr
      AskWoody Lounger
      August 4, 2003 at 8:04 pm #699675

      Yes, easily done a couple of ways but one I use the most to number columns is as follows:

      In cell A1 enter: 1
      in cell A2 enter: =A1+1
      then select cell A2 and the rest of the cells below it that you want to number and use fill down command.

      This method can be used to fill in numbers starting in any row or column…and you can start with any number you want and use any formula. (For example, if you only want to use even numbers for some reason, then in my example you would enter a 2 in A1 and enter: =A1+2 in cell A2.)

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    • WSsdckapr
      AskWoody Lounger
      August 4, 2003 at 8:52 pm #699694

      Nothing builtin to do what you want, you could create a macro do be triggered on some event, though we would need more details on what you need.

      Steve

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    • WSHetty
      AskWoody Lounger
      August 5, 2003 at 10:42 am #699816

      Hello Satiria

      This is my understanding of the question, when someone enters information in a column, then the cell next to it will automatically add numbers.

      If this is the case, I have added a spreadsheet that I refer back to in order to accomplish it. If any other Loungers know a simpler and cleaner formula, I would be glad to have it.

      Regards and Hope this helps

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    • WSSatiria
      AskWoody Lounger
      August 5, 2003 at 11:34 am #699843

      Actually – I found something fairly easy. I thought that if you the Extend List Formats and Formulas turned on under Tools | Options | Edit tab that if I typed a “1” in cell A1, then clicked and dragged the fill handle down and copied to cells A2-A100 that it would automatically fill in numbers 2-100, but instead it just copies the “1” value. Did a little research and the solution is much simpler than macros, etc. If you type a “1” in cell A1, a “2” in cell A2, a “3” in cell A3 – highlight / select them all, THEN click the fill handle and drag down through cell A100 it will fill in the cells sequentially. For the Extend List Formats and Formulas option to work, “formats and formulas must appear in at least three of the five rows preceding the new row” according to Microsoft. Thanks for all the help, though.

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      • WSHansV
        AskWoody Lounger
        August 5, 2003 at 11:44 am #699856

        It is enough to fill and select 2 cells, then use the fill grip. Excel will increase the values by the difference of the first two.

        If you fill more than 2 cells, Excel will create a linear extrapolation – see what happens if you enter 1 in A1, 2 in A2 and 3.3 in A3, select A1:A3 and then fill down.

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      • WSColinBurrows
        AskWoody Lounger
        August 5, 2003 at 5:43 pm #699965

        Another way would be to put the formula
        =ROW()
        in column A. The formula automatically returns the row number, and would adjust even if rows are subsequently added (which may or may not be what you want…)

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      • WSWyllyWylly
        AskWoody Lounger
        February 9, 2004 at 4:25 pm #781328

        Is there a link to the Microsoft article that I assume this refers to? The term “fill handle” to me indicates the paint bucket for highlighting cells, which is obviously not what is needed here.

        (Just in case you were wondering I am attempting to accomplish the same thing!)

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        • WSsdckapr
          AskWoody Lounger
          February 9, 2004 at 4:43 pm #781337

          The “fill handle” is the bottom right corner of a range. When you put the mouse over it it changes to a small “+”. At this stage you can double click and it will fill to the bottom of the data.

          Steve

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        • WSsdckapr
          AskWoody Lounger
          February 9, 2004 at 4:43 pm #781338

          The “fill handle” is the bottom right corner of a range. When you put the mouse over it it changes to a small “+”. At this stage you can double click and it will fill to the bottom of the data.

          Steve

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      • WSWyllyWylly
        AskWoody Lounger
        February 9, 2004 at 4:25 pm #781329

        Is there a link to the Microsoft article that I assume this refers to? The term “fill handle” to me indicates the paint bucket for highlighting cells, which is obviously not what is needed here.

        (Just in case you were wondering I am attempting to accomplish the same thing!)

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    • WSSatiria
      AskWoody Lounger
      August 5, 2003 at 7:21 pm #700017

      Actually, no that doesn’t work as Row 1 is a “Title” row, and Rows 2-100 are actual info. So if you were attempting to number information, and the actual information didn’t start until Row 2, in theory the numbering would start with 2…instead of 1. Of course I’m speaking totally theoretically – I didn’t actually try it (shame on me!!!)

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      • WSHansV
        AskWoody Lounger
        August 5, 2003 at 7:32 pm #700020

        In that case , you could (totally theoretically) use =ROW()-1

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        • WSexceluser
          AskWoody Lounger
          August 6, 2003 at 3:07 pm #700240

          I would use the following formula in cells A2 and below:

          =IF(B2=””,””,MAX(A$1:A1)+1)

          This allows one to skip rows if necessary.

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