Adjacent cells in excel

Follow these steps to fill a formula and choose which options to apply:

1. Select the cell that has the formula you want to fill into adjacent cells.

2. Drag the fill handle across the cells that you want to fill.

   If you don’t see the fill handle, it might be hidden. To display it again:

   1. Click File > Options

   2. Click Advanced.

   3. Under Editing Options, check the Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop box.

3. To change how you want to fill the selection, click the small Auto Fill Options icon that appears after you finish dragging, and choose the option that want.

For more information about copying formulas, see Copy and paste a formula to another cell or worksheet.

1. Select the cell that has the formula you want to fill into adjacent cells.

2. Drag the fill handle down or to the right of the column you want to fill.

Keyboard shortcut: You can also press Ctrl+D to fill the formula down a cell in a column, or Ctrl+R to fill the formula to the right in a row.

Copying and Pasting a cell or a range of cells is one of the most common tasks users do in Excel.

A proper understanding of how to copy-paste multiple cells (that are adjacent or non-adjacent) would really help you be a lot more efficient while working with Microsoft Excel.

In this tutorial, I will show you different scenarios where you can copy and paste multiple cells in Excel.

If you have been using Excel for some time now, I’m quite sure you would know some of these already, but there’s a good chance you’d end up learning something new.

So let’s get started!

Copy and Paste Multiple Adjacent Cells

Let’s start with the easy scenario.

Suppose you have a range of cells (that are adjacent) as shown below and you want to copy it to some other location in the same worksheet or some other worksheet/workbook.

Below are the steps to do this:

1. Select the range of cells that you want to copy

1. Right-click on the selection
2. Click on Copy

1. Right-click on the destination cell (E1 in this example)
2. Click on the Paste icon

The above steps would copy all the cells in the selected range and paste them into the destination range.

In case you already have something in the destination range, it would be overwritten.

Excel also gives you the flexibility to choose what you want to paste. For example, you can choose to only copy and paste the values, or the formatting, or the formulas, etc.

These options are available to you when you right-click on the destination cell (the icons below the paste special option).

Or you can click on the Paste Special option and then choose what you want to paste using the options in the dialog box.

Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Copy Paste

In case you prefer using the keyboard while working with Excel, you can use the below shortcut:

• Control + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac) – to copy range of cells
• Control + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac) – to paste in the destination cells

And below are some advanced copy-paste shortcuts (using the paste special dialog box).

To use this, first copy the cells, then select the destination cell, and then use the below keyboard shortcuts.

• To paste only the Values – Control + E + S + V + Enter
• To paste only the Formulas – Control + E + S + F + Enter
• To paste only the Formatting – Control + E + S + T + Enter
• To paste only the Column Width – Control + E + S + W + Enter
• To paste only the Comments and notes – Control + E + S + C + Enter

In case you’re using Mac, use Command instead of Control.

Also read: How to Cut a Cell Value in Excel (Keyboard Shortcuts)

Mouse Shortcut for Copy Paste

If you prefer using the mouse instead of the keyboard shortcuts, here is another way you can quickly copy and paste multiple cells in Excel.

1. Select the cells that you want to copy
2. Hold the Control key
3. Place the mouse cursor at the edge of the selection (you will notice that the cursor changes into an arrow with a plus sign)
4. Left-click and then drag the selection where you want the cells to be pasted

This method is also quite fast but is only useful in case you want to copy and paste the range of cells in the same worksheet somewhere nearby.

If the destination cell is a little far off, you’re better off using the keyboard shortcuts.

Copy and Paste Multiple Non-Adjacent Cells

Copy-pasting multiple cells that are nonadjacent is a bit tricky.

If you select multiple cells that are not adjacent to each other, and you copy these cells, you’ll see a prompt as shown below.

This is Excel’s way of telling you that you cannot copy multiple cells that are non-adjacent.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing that you can do about it.

There’s no hack or a workaround, and if you want to copy and paste these nonadjacent cells, you will have to do this one by one.

But there are a few scenarios where you can actually copy and paste non-adjacent cells in Excel.

Let’s have a look at these.

Copy and Paste Multiple Non-Adjacent Cells (that are in the same row/column)

While you can not copy non-adjacent cells in different rows and columns, if you have non-adjacent cells in the same row or column, Excel allows you to copy these.

For example, you can copy cells in the same row (even if these are non-adjacent). Just select the cells and then use Control + C (or Command + C for Mac). You will see the outline (the dancing ants outline).

Once you have copied these cells, go to the destination cell and paste these (Control + V or Command + V)

Excel will paste all the copied cells in the destination cell but make these adjacents.

Similarly, you can select multiple nonadjacent cells in one column, copy them, and then paste it into the destination cells.

Copy and Paste Multiple Non-Adjacent Rows/Columns (but adjacent cells)

Another thing Excel allows is to select non-adjacent rows or non-adjacent columns and then copy them.

Now when you paste these in the destination cell, these would be pasted as adjacent rows or columns.

Below is an example where I copied multiple non-adjacent rows from the dataset and pasted these in a different location.

Copy Value From Above in Non-Adjacent Cells

One practical scenario where you may have to copy and paste multiple cells would be when you have gaps in a data set and you want to copy the value from the cell above.

Below I have some dates in column A, and there are some blank cells as well. I want to fill these blank cells with the date in the last filed cell above them.

To do this, I would need to do two things:

• Select all the blank cells
• Copy the date from the above-filled cell and paste it into these blank cells

Let me show you how to do this.

Select All Blank Cells in the Dataset

Below are the steps to select all the blank cells in column A:

1. Select the dates in column A, including the blank ones that you want to fill

1. Press the F5 key on your keyboard. This will open the Go To dialog box.
2. Click the Special button. This will open the Go To Special dialog box.

1. In the Go To Special dialog box, select Blanks

1. Click OK

The above steps would select all the blank cells in column A.

Now, we want to somehow copy the value in the above field cell in these blank cells. This cannot be done using any copy-paste method so we will have to use a formula (a very simple one).

Fill Blank Cells with Value Above

This part is really easy.

1. With the blank cell selected, first hit the equal to key on your keyboard

1. Now hit the Up arrow key. This will automatically enter the cell reference of the cell that is above the active cell.

1. Hold the Control key and press the Enter key

The above steps would enter the same formula in all the selected blank cells – which is to refer to the cell above it.

While this is a formula, the end result is that you have the blank cells filled with the above-filled date in the data set.

Once you have the desired result, you can convert the formula into values if you want (so that the formula doesn’t update the cells in case you change any value in a cell that is being referenced in the formula).

So these are a couple of methods you can use to copy and paste multiple cells (adjacent and non-adjacent cells) in Excel. I am sure using these methods will help you save tons of time in your day-to-day work.

I hope you found this tutorial useful!

Other Excel tutorials you may also like:

• How to Copy and Paste Column in Excel? 3 Easy Ways!
• How to Copy Excel Table to MS Word (4 Easy Ways)
• How to Copy Conditional Formatting to Another Cell in Excel
• How to Copy and Paste Formulas in Excel without Changing Cell References
• How to Edit Cells in Excel?

To select a range, select a cell, then with the left mouse button pressed, drag over the other cells. Or use the Shift + arrow keys to select the range. To select non-adjacent cells and cell ranges, hold Ctrl and select the cells.

How do you select multiple cells individually?

Hold the Control key on the keyboard. One by one, select all the non-contiguous cells (or range of cells) that you want to remain selected. When done, leave the Control key.

How do you select two columns in Excel that are not next to each other on Mac?

Select multiple adjacent rows or columns: Click the number or letter for the first row or column, then drag a white dot across the adjacent rows or columns. Select nonadjacent rows or columns: Command-click any row numbers or column letters.

How do you select multiple cells in Excel without dragging?

Select a Large Range of Cells With the Shift Key
Click the first cell in the range you want to select. Scroll your sheet until you find the last cell in the range you want to select. Hold down your Shift key, and then click that cell. All the cells in the range are now selected.

How do I select only certain cells in Excel?

Select one or more cells

1. Click on a cell to select it. Or use the keyboard to navigate to it and select it.
2. To select a range, select a cell, then with the left mouse button pressed, drag over the other cells.
3. To select non-adjacent cells and cell ranges, hold Ctrl and select the cells.

Why can’t I select multiple cells in Excel?

Extend Selection Mode
If you notice some weird selection behavior going on with your mouse in Excel, take a look at the Status Bar — you might see something toward the left end that says “Extend Selection.” Even if you don’t, turning the selection mode off is easy. Just press F8.

How do I select two columns in another worksheet?

To select multiple columns or rows that are contiguous:

1. Click on the first column or row in the group.
2. Hold down the Shift key.
3. Click the last column or row in the group.

How do I highlight two non adjacent cells in Excel?

Select Non-Adjacent Cells with Keyboard and Mouse

1. With your mouse, click the first cell you want to highlight.
2. Press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard.
3. Click the rest of the cells you want to highlight.
4. Once the desired cells are highlighted, release the Ctrl key.

How do I copy multiple non adjacent cells in Excel?

(2) Copy and paste multiple non adjacent rows (or columns) which contain the same columns (or rows) 1. Holding the Ctrl key, and select multiple nonadjacent rows (or columns) which contain the same columns (or rows).

How do you delete multiple columns in Excel not next to each other?

Hold down the Command key, and select each of the other rows of the group. After all rows are selected, right-click or control-click, and click Delete from the popup menu. Or, after all rows are selected, choose Edit from the main menu, and click Delete.

When should you use Ctrl key method for selecting multiple cells?

When should you use the Ctrl key method for selecting multiple cells? When the cells are scattered and spread around the spreadsheet.

How do I select a large range of cells in Excel without scrolling?

You can do this two ways:

1. Click into the cell in the upper left corner of the range.
2. Click into the Name Box and type the cell in the lower right corner of the range.
3. Press SHIFT + Enter.
4. Excel will select the entire range.

What is an Xlookup in Excel?

Use the XLOOKUP function to find things in a table or range by row.With XLOOKUP, you can look in one column for a search term, and return a result from the same row in another column, regardless of which side the return column is on.

How do I select multiple cells in Excel to copy and paste?

After selecting the range of cells press Ctrl + C together to copy the range of cells. Again, select a range of cells where you want to paste it and press on to Ctrl + V together to paste it. This is the easiest way of copying and pasting multiple cells altogether.

How do you group multiple selections in Excel?

To group rows or columns:

1. Select the rows or columns you want to group. In this example, we’ll select columns A, B, and C.
2. Select the Data tab on the Ribbon, then click the Group command. Clicking the Group command.
3. The selected rows or columns will be grouped. In our example, columns A, B, and C are grouped together.

How do I select multiple cells in sheets?

To select more than one row in the data view, click one row, then hold the Control (Windows) or Command (Mac) key and select each of the other rows you wish to edit or remove. To select a continuous list, click one row, then hold the Shift key and click the last row.

How do I select certain cells in sheets?

To select non-adjacent cells, simply hold down the command key (for Mac users, PC users hold down the CTRL key) while making your selections.

How do I paste into multiple cells in sheets?

To include multiple cells, click on one, and without releasing the click, drag your mouse around adjacent cells to highlight them before copying. To paste to a cell, single-click on the cell where you’d like to paste in the information and press Ctrl + V (or right-click on the destination cell and select Paste).

How do you select two non-adjacent columns in sheets?

Holding down the CTRL key on the keyboard and dragging over the required cells with the mouse is the only way that non-adjacent columns and cells can be selected in Google Sheets.

How do you copy multiple cells into one cell?

Combine text from two or more cells into one cell

1. Select the cell where you want to put the combined data.
2. Type = and select the first cell you want to combine.
3. Type & and use quotation marks with a space enclosed.
4. Select the next cell you want to combine and press enter. An example formula might be =A2&” “&B2.

How do you copy consecutive cells in Excel?

Simply select the cell containing the formula you want to fill into adjacent cells and drag the fill handle down the cells in the column or across the cells in the row that you want to fill. The formula is copied to the other cells.

This post will guide you how to merge adjacent cells in columns with same value or data with VBA Macro in Excel. How do I merge cells when adjacent value is the same in one column in Excel.

Assuming that you have a list of data in range A1:B4, and you only want to merge adjacent cells in column A. How to do it. You can use an Excel VBA Macro to quickly merge adjacent cells with same data or value in a specific column or range. Just do the following steps:

#1 open your excel workbook and then click on “Visual Basic” command under DEVELOPER Tab, or just press “ALT+F11” shortcut.

#2 then the “Visual Basic Editor” window will appear.

#3 click “Insert” ->”Module” to create a new module.

#4 paste the below VBA code  into the code window. Then clicking “Save” button.

 Sub MergeAdjacentCells()

    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Application.DisplayAlerts = False
    
    Set myRange = Application.Selection
    Set myRange = Application.InputBox("Select one Range that you want to merge cells with same data in one column:", "MergeAdjacentCells", myRange.Address, Type:=8)

    MergeAgain:
    For Each myCell In myRange
       If myCell.Value = myCell.Offset(1, 0).Value And IsEmpty(myCell) = False Then
           Range(myCell, myCell.Offset(1, 0)).Merge
           GoTo MergeAgain
       End If
    Next
    Application.DisplayAlerts = True
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

#5 back to the current worksheet, then run the above excel macro. Click Run button.

#6 Select one Range that you want to merge cells with same data in one column. Click Ok button.

#7 let’s see the result: