Forum Discussion
Auto Fill/Flash Fill Feature not recognizing pattern.
I tried a simple pattern of increasing each digit in the same column and highlighted the numbers with the intended empty columns to fill. I selected" flash fill" from the data tools menu. I keep getting this message:
"To use Flash Fill, enter a couple of examples of the output you'd like to see, keep the active cell in the column you want filled in, and click the Flash Fill button again."
I am using excel 2019 on a mac laptop.
I have the input entered as the following:
Radius (cm) in the column
2
4
6
8
10
And it still won't recognize this pattern. I've tried a simpler one such as 1, 2, 3, 4,...10. And I still receive the error number. Any tips?
- Ah yes thank you! I realized my mistake was not selecting the bottom corner point from the highlighted column that I wanted the pattern to emerge in. Thanks!
- Flash fill is intended for situations where you have a column which contains data which you want to split across more than one column, such as house numbers and street names. You can then type in an adjacent column two rows of examples of the information you want to extract from that combined column and then try let flash fill give a go at the remaining rows.
I think the feature you're looking for is Series Fill (via Fill Handle or Home | Editing | Fill | Series). Flash Fill looks at the adjacent column.
- You should not be using flash fill for this. Simply select the first two cells (2 and 4 for example) and then drag the fill handle down for as many cells as you need.
I know. I was testing this auto fill features prior to using it for more complicated patterns and cell reference functions.. like if I wanted to find how to increase or decrease caloric intake to a maintenance amount by 1% each day... then I'd use the auto fill feature to save time and input the calculations which holds a product cell into the formula as I extend the formula.
I actually figured out what I did wrong and why auto fill was not working. I highlighted the cells in a column but this is incorrect and why the data fill was not working. I needed to highlight and specifically click the corner point and then autofill worked.
