S1E6-Flash Fill

Hi, welcome to the sixth episode of Relax with Excel where you may learn something about Excel but will probably fall asleep.  Then again maybe you’ll learn in your sleep.  In this episode we’re going to cover the Flash Fill feature. 

The flash fill feature is a way to automatically fill in data based on a pattern or example. Here is a step-by-step approach on how to use the flash fill feature in a paragraph format: 

• Open a blank Excel file and enter some sample data in a column. For example, you can enter the following data in column A: 

- Name 

  - Alice Smith 

  - Bob Jones 

  - Charlie Brown 

  - David Lee 

  - Eve Green 

• Let’s have Column B show the names in last name comma first name format.  In cell B1 type last, first. 

• Select a cell b2  and type the data you want to fill in based on the pattern or example. For example, you can type Smith   n cell B2 to fill in the last name and first name separated by a comma. 

• Press Enter to complete the data entry. You will see the data in the cell. For example, you will see Smith, Alice in cell B2. 

• Select the cell again and click on the Fill button in the Editing group on the Home tab. You will see a drop-down menu with different options to fill the data. 

• Click on the Flash Fill option in the menu. You will see the data automatically filled in the adjacent column based on the pattern or example. For example, you will see the following data in column B: 

| Last , First | 

|------------| 

| Smith ,  Alice      | 

| Jones, Bob        | 

| Brown, Charlie    | 

| Lee, David      | 

| Green, Eve        | 

• You can copy and paste the data to other cells or modify the pattern or example to fill in different data. For example, you can type A. Smith in cell C2 and use the flash fill feature to fill in the first initial and last name separated by a dot.  Lets try with a keyboard shortcut instead of using the Ribbon command.  After you type A. Smith and press return, use the keyboard shortcust Ctrl + E and it will perform the flash fill. You will see the following data in column C: 

- Name 

  - A. Smith 

  - B. Jones 

  - C. Brown 

  - D. Lee 

  - E. Green 

That was a basic explanation of Flash fill  and how to use it in Excel.  If you’re still awake, thanks for getting this far. If you’re asleep, pleasant dreams.