Filling in blank cells? Is there an easier way?

[TWTHOMAS]

Sorry for the vague Subject but not sure how to ask for help on this one.

Here is my issue.

I work with a system that generates an excel report. I have no way to make it generate differently so I am stuck with what it spits out.

For simplicty sake I will explain the sheet so I can ask my question.

The sheet has about 15,000 rows all filled with data in columns A thru N.

It lists employees and training they plan on attending next year.

In Columns A thru G is listed employees information. Name, SSN, Position, etc...

In Columns H-N is the information for training. Type training, date to start, date to end, cost, etc...

The problem I have is this, it comes out looking kind of like a pivot table.
For example John Smith is going to 5 periods of training it lists Johns information in the right columns but only in Row 2 below the header.
His first period of training is listed next to his name info in the right columns. Then in the next four rows, his personal information is blank but each of the training periods are filled in in colums H-N.

The Susan Jones information is in row 7 along with her 1 session of training listed beside her name.

Perhaps the Next person has 12 periods of training listed but again, thier name data only appears in the first row of thier training and the next 11 columsn A-G are blanks.


What I need it to fill the blanks with the data from the employee so each period of training is preceded by the name data identical to the one above it.

I have cut and pasted until my fingers are numb. Is there a way to get the name data to fill down and stop on the next populated row?

I cannot get onto FLICKR from work so I will attempt to show below a simple version of what I mean.

_____A_______ B__________ C_______ D
1 Jones ______Worker____ Hazmat ___06 JUN 12
2 ______________________Purc 1 ____01 DEC 12
3 ______________________Purc 2 ____12 DEC 12
4 Smith_______ Worker ___Hazmat____ 06 JUN 12
5 Thomas _____Leader ____535 G _____12 APR 12
6 ____________Leader____ Hazmat____ 06 JUN 12
7 ____________Leader ____Cont 3 _____23 AUG 12

Is there any way to get Jones and Thomas name to populate down
without just cutting and pasting? Remember I have 15,000+ training periods and roughly 4,000 employees on this list.

Thanks and sorry if this makes no sense.

 

[MOB]

I think there may be an option to do this included in ASAP Utilities - may be worth investigating?

 

[VoG]

Try this:

Press F5, click Special, tick Blanks, click OK.

Press =

Press Up arrow

Hold down CTRL and press Enter.

 

[TWTHOMAS]

Try this:

Press F5, click Special, tick Blanks, click OK.

Press =

Press Up arrow

Hold down CTRL and press Enter.

AWESOME! That worked perfectly!