Automatic sequential row numbering (Excel 2000)

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

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

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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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Good tip, thanks!

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