Excel 2020: How to "fill down" an array?

Excel is a powerful tool that allows you to organize and analyze data. One useful feature is the ability to fill down an array, which can save you time and effort when working with large sets of data. In this article, we will explain what "fill down" means and how to use it in Excel 2020.

What does "fill down" mean?

"Fill down" is a term used in Excel to describe the action of copying the contents of a cell or a series of cells into the cells below. This is particularly useful when you have a pattern or formula that you want to apply to multiple cells in a column.

How to "fill down" an array in Excel 2020

To "fill down" an array in Excel 2020, follow these simple steps:

1. Select the cell or cells that contain the data you want to fill down.
2. Place your cursor on the bottom-right corner of the selected cell(s) until it changes to a thin black cross.
3. Click and drag the cursor down to the desired number of cells you want to fill.
4. Release the mouse button to complete the "fill down" action.

That's it! Excel will automatically copy the contents of the selected cell(s) and fill them down into the cells below. This is especially useful when you have a large dataset and need to quickly populate multiple cells with the same information or formula.

Example: Filling down a formula

Let's say you have a column of numbers from A1 to A10, and you want to calculate the square of each number in column B. Instead of manually entering the formula for each cell in column B, you can use the "fill down" feature to save time.

Here's how:

1. In cell B1, enter the formula =A1^2 to calculate the square of the number in cell A1.
2. Select cell B1 and hover your cursor over the bottom-right corner until it changes to a thin black cross.
3. Click and drag the cursor down to cell B10 to fill down the formula into the remaining cells.
4. Release the mouse button to complete the "fill down" action.

Now, you will see that Excel has automatically filled down the formula into cells B2 to B10, calculating the square of each corresponding number in column A.

Conclusion

The "fill down" feature in Excel 2020 is a powerful tool that can save you time and effort when working with large datasets. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you can easily copy the contents of a cell or a series of cells into the cells below, whether it's data, formulas, or patterns.

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