How Do I Insert the Same Number in an Excel Column?

You can quickly insert the same number into multiple cells in an Excel column using a simple technique. Here's how:

Steps:

1. Select the cells: Select all the cells in the column where you want to insert the same number. This could be a continuous range or non-adjacent cells selected using the Ctrl key.
2. Activate the selected range: Press the F2 key. This will activate the last selected cell in the range for editing.
3. Enter the number: Type the number you want to insert into the active cell.
4. Apply to all selected cells: Instead of pressing Enter, press Ctrl + Enter. This will fill all the selected cells with the number you entered.

Example:

Let's say you want to insert the number "5" into cells A1 to A10.

1. Select cells A1:A10.
2. Press F2. Cell A1 will become active.
3. Type "5".
4. Press Ctrl + Enter. All cells from A1 to A10 will now contain the number 5.

Alternative Method (Using the Fill Handle):

1. Enter the desired number into the first cell of the intended range.
2. Select that cell.
3. Hover your mouse over the bottom-right corner of the cell. The cursor will change to a black plus sign (+), which is the fill handle.
4. Click and drag the fill handle down to the last cell in the desired range. All cells in the selected range will be filled with the same number.

Important Considerations:

• Blank Cells: Both methods also work effectively with blank cells scattered throughout the column.
• Overwriting Existing Data: Be aware that these methods will overwrite any existing data in the selected cells.

This method provides a fast and efficient way to populate a column with the same numerical value.