Excel Database Management

Excel Database Management

How to use AutoFill
Whether you just want to copy the same value down or need to get a series of numbers or text
values, fill handle in Excel is the feature to help. It's an irreplaceable part of the AutoFill option.
Fill handle is a small square that appears in the bottom-right corner when you select a cell or
range.

The scheme is simple. Whenever you need to get a series of values in the adjacent cells, just
click on the Excel fill handle to see a small black cross and drag it vertically or horizontally. As
you release the mouse button, you will see the selected cells filled with the values depending on
the pattern you specify.

One of the most popular questions is how to autofill numbers is Excel. This can also be dates,
times, days of the week, months, years and so on. In addition, Excel's AutoFill will follow any
pattern.

Page 2 of 24
Excel Database Management
For example, if you need to continue a sequence, just enter the first two values into the starting
cell and grab the fill handle to copy the data across the specified range.

You can also auto-populate any arithmetic progression sequence where the difference between
numbers is constant.

Page 3 of 24
Excel Database Management
It will even alternate sequences if the selected cells don't relate to each other numerically, like on
the picture below.

And it goes without saying, that you can use the AutoFill option to copy a value across your
range. I think you already know how to make the same value appear in the adjacent cells in
Excel. You just need to enter this number, text, or their combination, and drag it across the cells
using the fill handle.

Presume you have already heard of the features I described above. I still believe, some of them
appeared new to you. So go on reading to learn even more about this popular yet under-explored
tool.

All AutoFill Excel options - see the fill handle at its best

Double-click to automatically populate a large range

Suppose you have a huge database with names. You need to assign a serial number to each
name. You can do it in a flash by entering the first two numbers and double-clicking the Excel

Page 4 of 24
Excel Database Management
fill handle.

Note. This hint will only work if you have values to the left or right of the column you need to fill as Excel
looks at the adjacent column to define the last cell in the range to fill. Please also keep in mind that it will
populate by the longest column in case you have values to the right and to the left of the empty range you want
to fill down.

Excel - Fill down a series of values that contain text

It's not a problem for the AutoFill option to copy across the values that contain both text and
numerical values. Moreover, Excel is quite smart to know that there are only 4 quarters or that

Page 5 of 24
Excel Database Management
some ordinal numbers need the corresponding letter suffixes.

Use the AutoFill option to get repeating series

If you need a series of recurring values, you can still use the fill handle. For example, you need
to repeat YES, NO, TRUE, FALSE sequence. First, enter all these values manually to give Excel
a pattern. Then just grab the fill handle and drag it to the necessary cell.

Page 6 of 24
Excel Database Management
Autofilling horizontally and vertically
Most likely, you use AutoFill to populate cells down a column. However, this feature also works
if you need to extend a range horizontally, leftward or upward. Just select the cells with the
value(s) and drag the fill handle to the needed direction.

Autofill multiple rows or columns

The Excel Autofill can deal with data in more than one row or column. If you pick two, three or
more cells and drag the fill handle they all will be populated.

Excel 2010 gives you the ability to work with an enormous amount of data. Arranging your
data alphabetically, from smallest to largest or other criteria can help you find the information
you're looking for more quickly.

To Sort in Alphabetical Order:

1. Select a cell in the column you want to sort by. In this example, we will sort by Last
Name.

Page 7 of 24
Excel Database Management

Selecting a column to sort

2. Select the Data tab, and locate the Sort and Filter group.
3. Click the ascending command to Sort A to Z, or the descending command to Sort
Z to A.

Sorting in ascending alphabetical order

4. The data in the spreadsheet will be organized alphabetically.

Page 8 of 24
Excel Database Management

Sorted by last name, from A to Z

Sorting options can also be found on the Home tab, condensed into the Sort & Filter command.

To Sort in Numerical Order:

1. Select a cell in the column you want to sort by.

Selecting a column

Page 9 of 24
Excel Database Management
to sort
2. From the Data tab, click the ascending command to Sort Smallest to Largest, or the
descending command to Sort Largest to Smallest.
3. The data in the spreadsheet will be organized numerically.

Sorted by Extension, from smallest to largest

Sorting Multiple Levels

Another feature of custom sorting, sorting multiple levels allows you to identify which columns
to sort by and when, giving you more control over the organization of your data. For example,
you could sort by more than one cell color (such as red, then yellow, then green, to indicate
different levels of priority); or, as seen here, sort students by homeroom number, then by last
name.

To Add a Level:
1. From the Data tab, click the Sort command to open the Sort dialog box.
2. Identify the first item you want to Sort by. In this example, we will sort Homeroom #
from Smallest to Largest.
3. Click Add Level to add another item.

Page 10 of 24
Excel Database Management

Adding a level
4. Identify the item you want to sort by next. We will sort Last Name from A to Z.

Choosing criteria for a second level

5. Click OK.
6. The spreadsheet will be sorted so that homeroom numbers are in order, and within each
homeroom, students are listed alphabetically by last name.

Page 11 of 24
Excel Database Management

Sorted by multiple levels

Copy Level will add a level by duplicating the one you have selected, and allowing you to
modify the sorting criteria. This is useful if you need to sort multiple levels that share some
criteria, such as the same Column, Sort On, or Order.

To Change the Sorting Priority:

1. From the Data tab, click the Sort command to open the Custom Sort dialog box.
2. Select the level you want to re-order.
3. Use the Move Up or Move Down arrows. The higher the level is on the list, the higher its
priority.

Page 12 of 24
Excel Database Management

Changing the sorting priority

4. Click OK.

Filtering Data
Filters can be applied in many different ways to improve the performance of your worksheet. You can
filter text, dates, and numbers. You can even use more than one filter to further narrow down your
results.

To Filter Data:
In this example, we will filter the contents of an equipment log at a technology company. We
will display only the laptops and projectors that are available for check-out.
1. Begin with a worksheet that identifies each column using a header row.

Page 13 of 24
Excel Database Management

Worksheet with
header row
2. Select the Data tab, and locate the Sort & Filter group.
3. Click the Filter command.

Clicking the filter command

4. Drop-down arrows will appear in the header of each column.
5. Click the drop-down arrow for the column you would like to filter. In this example, we
will filter the Type column to view only certain types equipment.

Page 14 of 24
Excel Database Management

Filtering a column
6. The Filter menu appears.
7. Uncheck the boxes next to the data you don't want to view. (You can uncheck the box
next to Select All to quickly uncheck all.)
8. Check the boxes next to the data you do want to view. In this example, we will check
Laptop and Projector to view only those types of equipment.

Selecting filter data

9. Click OK. All other data will be filtered, or temporarily hidden. Only laptops and
projectors will be visible.

Page 15 of 24
Excel Database Management

Filtered worksheet
Filtering options can also be found on the Home tab, condensed into the Sort & Filter
command.

To Add Another Filter:

Filters are additive, meaning you can use as many as you need to narrow down your results. In
this example, we will work with a spreadsheet that has already been filtered to display only
laptops and projectors. Now we will display only laptops and projectors that were checked out
during the month of August.
1. Click the drop-down arrow where you would like to add a filter. In this example, we
will add a filter to the Checked Out column to view information by date.
2. Uncheck the boxes next to the data you don't want to view. Check the boxes next to the
data you do want to view. In this example, we will check the box next to August.

Page 16 of 24
Excel Database Management

Selecting filter data

3. Click OK. In addition to the original filter, the new filter will be applied. The worksheet
will be narrowed down even further.

Worksheet with two filters

To Clear a Filter:
1. Click the drop-down arrow in the column from which you want to clear the filter.
2. Choose Clear Filter From...

Page 17 of 24
Excel Database Management

Clearing a filter
3. The filter will be cleared from the column. The data that was previously hidden will be
on display once again.
To instantly clear all filters from your worksheet, click the Filter command on the Data tab.

Advanced Filtering
To Filter Using Search:
Searching for data is a convenient alternative to checking or unchecking data from the list. You
can search for data that contains an exact phrase, number, or date, or a simple fragment. For
example, searching for the exact phrase "Saris X-10 Laptop" will display only Saris X-10
Laptops. Searching for the word "Saris," however, will display Saris X-10 Laptops, and any
other Saris equipment, including projectors, digital cameras, and more.
1. From the Data tab, click the Filter command.
2. Click the drop-down arrow in the column you would like to filter. In this example, we
will filter the Equipment Detail column to view only a specific brand.
3. Enter the data you would like to view in the Search box. We will enter the word "Saris"
to find all Saris brand equipment. The search results will appear automatically.

Page 18 of 24
Excel Database Management

Entering a search
4. Check the boxes next to the data you want to display. We will display all the data that
includes the brand name Saris.
5. Click OK. The worksheet will be filtered according to your search term.

Page 19 of 24
Excel Database Management

Worksheet filtered
using Search

To Use Advanced Text Filters:

Advanced text filters can be used to display more specific information, such as cells that
contain a certain number of characters, or data that does not contain a word you specify. In this
example, we will use advanced text filters to hide any equipment that is related to cameras,
including digital cameras, camcorders, and more.
1. From the Data tab, click the Filter command.
2. Click the drop-down arrow in the column of text that you would like to filter. In this
example, we will filter the Equipment Detail column to view only certain kinds of
equipment.
3. Choose Text Filters to open the advanced filtering menu.
4. Choose a filter. In this example, we will choose Does Not Contain to view data that does
not contain the text we specify.

Page 20 of 24
Excel Database Management

Selecting a
text filter
5. The Custom AutoFilter dialog appears.
6. Enter your text to the right of your filter. In this example, we will enter "cam" to view
data that does not contain those letters. That will exclude any equipment related to
cameras, such as digital cameras, camcorders, camera bags, and the digicam printer.

Entering filter text

Page 21 of 24
Excel Database Management
7. Click OK. The data will be filtered according to the filter you chose and the text you
specified.

To Use Advanced Date Filters:

Advanced date filters can be used to view information from a certain time period, such as last
year, next quarter, between two dates, and more. Excel automatically knows your current date
and time, making this tool very easy to use. In this example, we will use advanced date filters to
view only the equipment that has been checked out this week.
5. From the Data tab, click the Filter command.
6. Click the drop-down arrow in the column of dates that you would like to filter. In this
example, we will filter the Checked Out column to view only a certain range of dates.
7. Choose Date Filters to open the advanced filtering menu.
8. Click a filter. We will choose This Week to view equipment that has been checked out
this week.

Selecting a date filter

9. The worksheet will be filtered according to the date filter you chose.

Page 22 of 24
Excel Database Management

Worksheet filtered by date

To Use Advanced Number Filters:

Advanced number filters allow you to manipulate numbered data in many different ways. For
example, in a worksheet of exam grades, you could display the top and bottom numbers to view
the highest and lowest scores. In this example, we will display only certain kinds of equipment
based on the range of ID #s that have been assigned to them.
1. From the Data tab, click the Filter command.
2. Click the drop-down arrow in the column of numbers that you would like to filter. In
this example, we will filter the ID # column to view only a certain range of ID #s.
3. Choose Number Filters to open the advanced filtering menu.
4. Choose a filter. In this example, we will choose Between to view ID #s between the
numbers we specify.
Selecting a number filter
5. Enter a number to the right of
each filter. In this example, we
will view ID #s greater than or
equal to 3000, but less than or
equal to 4000. That will display
ID #s in the 3000-4000 range.

Page 23 of 24
Excel Database Management

Entering filter numbers

6. Click OK. The data will be filtered according to the filter you chose and the numbers you
specified.

Worksheet filtered
by number

Page 24 of 24