Microsoft Knowledge Base

XL: Problem Importing Custom AutoFill from Nonadjacent Cells
Last reviewed: March 27, 1997
Article ID: Q106039
5.00 7.00 | 5.00 
WINDOWS   | MACINTOSH
kbusage

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, when you import a custom AutoFill list from a selection of nonadjacent cells, the resulting list may not include the entire selection or the list may not be added at all. You will not receive an alert message to indicate that your selection cannot be imported.

MORE INFORMATION

To import a single custom AutoFill list, the selection of cells must be contained in a single column or row. Microsoft Excel searches for list entries in rows or columns, but you cannot import a single list from both. If your selection contains multiple rows or columns, the elements in each separate row and column will be imported in separate lists. Additionally, it is not possible to import a list that contains only one entry.

The following examples demonstrate how Microsoft Excel imports selected cells as custom AutoFill lists.

Example 1

  1. In a new worksheet, enter the following data: 

          A1:          B1: North  C1: South  D1: East  E1: West
      A2: Chicago  B2: 56     C2: 57     D2: 58    E2: 59
      A3: Seattle  B3: 32     C3: 33     D3: 34    E3: 35
      A4: Miami    B3: 76     C4: 75     D4: 74    E4: 75

  2. From the Tools menu, choose Options and select the Custom Lists tab.

  3. With the insertion point in the Import List From Cells box, select cells $A$1:$E$4.

  4. Choose Import.

You will be prompted with a dialog box asking you to select whether to import the list from rows or columns. In this example, you cannot import from both rows and columns in one step.

Example2

  1. Follow steps 1 and 2 in Example 1 above.

  2. With the insertion point in the Import List From Cells box, select cells $A$2:$A$4. Press and hold down the CTRL key and select cells $B1$E1.

  3. Choose Import.

The data will be imported as two separate lists, North, South, East, West in one list and Chicago, Seattle, New York in the other.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. In a new worksheet, enter the following data:

    A1: Name1 B2: Name2 C3: Name3

  2. From the Tools menu choose Options and select the Custom Lists tab.

  3. With the insertion point in the Import List From Cells box, select cell A1, hold down the CTRL key and select cell B2, hold down the CTRL key and select cell C3.

  4. Choose Import.

Note that the list is not added as a Custom List. You do not receive an alert message to indicate that the selection cannot be imported.

REFERENCES

"User''s Guide," version 5.0,pages 121-123

For more information about Customizing AutoFill, choose the Search button in Help and type: 

   AutoFill

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 5.00 7.00
Keywords : kbusage
Version : 5.00 7.00 | 5.00
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: March 27, 1997
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