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Excel Table Autofill: Control Your Formulas

Understanding Excel Table Autofill: What It Is and Why You Might Not Want It

When working with Excel tables, creating a new formula often triggers automatic filling down the column. This feature, known as 'Calculated Column,' can be useful, but sometimes you need more control.

This guide explores various methods to prevent or disable this automatic filling, giving you the flexibility to manage your formulas effectively and avoid unwanted results.

Quick Methods to ly Undo Excel Table Autofill

The quickest way to reverse autofill is the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Z (Undo). This undoes the last action, which is usually the formula fill-down.

Alternatively, the Undo button in the Quick Access Toolbar achieves the same result. Clicking the dropdown reveals your recent Excel actions, confirming the fill operation.

Mastering The AutoCorrect Options Menu

If you accidentally trigger autofill, an AutoCorrect Options menu appears next to the cell. This menu has options to manage the behavior.

Key options include 'Undo Calculated Column' (equivalent to Ctrl+Z) and 'Stop Automatically Creating Calculated Columns.' The latter disables autofill application-wide, affecting all tables.

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Ctrl + Z is your friend! Use the Undo shortcut to instantly reverse unwanted autofill in Excel tables.

Excel Expert

Reinstating Re-enabling the Excel Table Autofill Feature

If you've disabled automatic calculated columns and wish to re-enable them, navigate to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options... > AutoFormat As You Type tab. Check the 'Fill formulas in tables to create calculated columns' box and hit OK.

This option can be useful when creating dynamic tables, and this ensures formulas are automatically applied throughout the table.