Automatically fill a column with Flash Fill
For example, automatically fill a First Name column from a Full Name column.
-
In the cell under First Name, type Molly and press Enter.
-
In the next cell, type the first few letters of Garret.
-
When the list of suggested values appears, press Return.
Select Flash Fill Options
for more options.
Try it! Select File > New, select Take a tour, and then select the Fill Tab.
![Flash filling a column of data](https://cxcs.microsoft.net/static/public/central/neutral/0b333997-8843-44b5-981d-bedf111f1ba2/04ae362e72ad00d7a00a3fb1159280fe28be214d.png)
Quickly calculate with AutoSum
-
Select the cell below the numbers you want to add.
-
Select Home > AutoSum
. -
Press Enter.
Tip For more calculations, select the down arrow next to AutoSum, and select a calculation.View summary data on the status bar.
You can also select a range of numbers to see common calculations in the status bar. See![Using AutoSum](https://cxcs.microsoft.net/static/public/central/neutral/190e7493-ebe9-4b0d-9ddc-c648bcabff2b/3df078b00b6b06e0e5ad8acd376498c6eabc983f.png)
Create a chart
Use the Quick Analysis tool to pick the right chart for your data.
-
Select the data you want to show in a chart.
-
Select the Quick Analysis button
to the bottom-right of the selected cells. -
Select Charts, hover over the options, and pick the chart you want.
Try it! Select File > New, select Take a tour, and then select the Charts tab. For more information, see Create charts.
![Excel Quick Chart](https://cxcs.microsoft.net/static/public/office/neutral/4520ee27-cc1d-4498-a006-bb6e92772f1c/a90faf8251ae034f8a61bfd87bf45235687e7d9e.png)
Use conditional formatting
Use Quick Analysis to highlight important data or show data trends.
-
Select the data to conditionally format.
-
Select the Quick Analysis button
to the bottom-right of the selected cells. -
Select Formatting, hover over the options, and pick the one you want.
Try it! Select File > New, select Take a tour, and then select the Analyze Tab.
![Using Quick Analysis to highlight data](https://cxcs.microsoft.net/static/public/central/neutral/fc487b6e-a096-48cf-8bef-afaf0d1ac67c/9435353b3a746b31c8f000add69d82bc989dbfcf.png)
Freeze the top row of headings
Freeze the top row of column headings so that only the data scrolls.
-
Press Enter or Esc to make sure you're done editing a cell.
-
Select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row.
For more information, see Freeze panes.
![Excel Freeze Panes](https://cxcs.microsoft.net/static/public/office/neutral/3d8cc278-0bb6-433c-8c6d-ff35d1cd7d11/6e5690ee5caa738555c494ddece5b596221e8f81.png)
Next: Collaborate in Excel