Step 1: Select a Cell 

Click the cell in which you want to enter data. The cell you click becomes the active cell, and a highlighted border surrounds the cell. Its reference appears in the Name box to the left of the Formula bar. 

 

Step 2: Enter Data in the Select Cell 

Type your entry (numbers and/or letters). As you type data, the data appears in both the active cell and in the Formula bar. When finished, press Enter. The active cell border moves down one cell, and your characters are entered in the cell in which you typed them. 

 

Step 3: Enter a Multicolumn List 

To enter a multicolumn list, begin at the top left corner of the list. As you type the entries, press Tab to move to the right to enter the data for each cell in the row. After you type the last entry in the row, press Enter instead of Tab; the active cell moves to the beginning of the next row. This manoeuvre is called Auto Return. 

 

 

 

Step 4: Copy the Cell Above 

To copy the entry from the cell above the active cell, press Ctrl+' (press Ctrl and the apostrophe key simultaneously) and then press Enter. 

 

 

Step 5: AutoComplete an Enter 

If you want to repeat an entry from anywhere in the same column (which not only saves time, but also prevents typing mistakes), type the first few letters of the entry. A possible match appears in the cell. This function is called AutoComplete. If the entry is correct, press Enter. If you don't want that entry, just continue typing. 

 

 

Step 6: Pick a Repeated Entry 

If you want to repeat an entry that already exists in the column somewhere, you can select it from a list instead of retyping it. Right-click the active cell, and choose Pick From List. A list of all the entries in the column appears. Click the entry you want.