Autofilling months in Excel is a breeze. You just need to enter the first month in a cell, drag the fill handle across the cells where you want the sequence to appear, and voilà! You’ve got your months lined up in perfect order. It’s a simple and quick way to save time and avoid manual entries.
How to Autofill Months in Excel
Autofilling months in Excel helps you quickly create a series of months without typing each one individually. Follow these steps to complete the task.
Step 1: Enter the first month
Start by typing the first month (e.g., January) into a cell.
When you enter the first month, Excel recognizes it as part of a sequence. This is the initial step to guide Excel on what you want to autofill.
Step 2: Select the fill handle
Click on the cell containing the first month. Then, position your cursor over the small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell, known as the fill handle.
The fill handle is a powerful tool in Excel. It allows you to extend the sequence effortlessly by dragging it across your desired range of cells.
Step 3: Drag the fill handle
Click and drag the fill handle across the cells where you want the months to appear.
As you drag the fill handle, Excel autocompletes the sequence of months. Keep an eye on the small tooltip that displays the content of the next cell in the sequence.
Step 4: Release the mouse button
Once you’ve reached the end of your desired range, release the mouse button.
By releasing the mouse button, you confirm the autofill action. Excel will populate the selected cells with the months in order.
Step 5: Verify the autofill
Double-check to make sure the months are correctly filled in the cells.
It’s always a good idea to verify the sequence. Ensure that all months appear as they should and that there are no gaps or repeats.
After completing these steps, Excel will automatically fill the cells with the months in order, saving you time and effort.
Tips for Autofilling Months in Excel
- If you need abbreviated months, type an abbreviation (e.g., Jan) and then drag the fill handle.
- You can start with any month. Just type it in and Excel will follow with the subsequent months.
- Use the fill handle to autofill months across rows or columns, whichever suits your layout.
- If you accidentally autofill something else, use the undo button (Ctrl + Z) to revert it.
- For custom lists, you can create your own sequences under Excel Options > Advanced > Edit Custom Lists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I autofill months in a custom order?
No, the autofill function follows the standard calendar order. For custom sequences, you need to create a custom list.
What if I want the months to appear in a different language?
You’d need to change the regional settings on your computer to reflect the desired language.
Can I autofill months but only display the first letter?
Yes, enter the first letter of the month (e.g., J for January) and drag the fill handle. Excel will autofill the sequence accordingly.
Does autofill work for fiscal years?
Autofill will follow the calendar sequence. For fiscal years, you need to manually adjust or create a custom list.
Can I use autofill for months in a different format, like numbers?
Yes, enter the first month as a number (e.g., 1 for January) and drag the fill handle. Excel will continue the sequence numerically.
Summary
- Enter the first month.
- Select the fill handle.
- Drag the fill handle.
- Release the mouse button.
- Verify the autofill.
Conclusion
Autofilling months in Excel is a handy feature that can save you a lot of time, especially when you’re dealing with long lists or schedules. It’s pretty straightforward: just type the first month, grab the fill handle, drag it to your desired range, and let Excel do the rest.
If this little trick has sparked your interest in learning more about Excel, there are countless other features and functions to explore. Maybe next, you could dive into autofilling dates or even tackling more complex functions like VLOOKUP or PivotTables.
So, give it a try and see how much smoother your Excel experience becomes. Practice makes perfect, and the more you use these features, the more efficient you’ll become. Happy Excel-ing!
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.