autofill question

[thejd99]

Sometimes when I use autofill in a column it increments each row (1,2,3,4...)and sometimes it fills each row with the same value (1,1,1,1...). The CTRL key has an effect on this, but it's not consistent. Sometimes holding CTRL while dragging makes it increment & sometimes it makes it repeat. I can't figure out what makes it work one way or the other, so I end up looking at the preview value before releasing the mouse button and then either press or release CTRL to get it to work the way I want. I'd like to know what determines how it will fill so I can stop having to watch the preview.

 

[Mark W.]

I use right-click and drag, and then pick the desired option from the popup menu.

 

[Mark W.]

BTW, notice the difference...

Enter 1 and drag downwards and you get...

{1;1;1...}

Now, select A1:B1, enter 1, drag downwards and you get...

{1;2;3...}