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Excel Default auto-fill options suddenly missing in 2016

Anonymous
2019-01-15T07:28:52+00:00

This is a feature that used to work flawlessly in Excel.  What on earth happened?

I have been using Excel to auto-fill various series contextually without an issue - for years in my work. Accounting, formulas, etc.  Now I can't and have no idea how to get i back. 

For example I am dragging a formula across and it just stops after the 2nd iteration. It then proceeds just to copy the previous cell!

For example I get 

=H10/H2 in cell 1, =I10/I2 in adjacent cell in 2, then I10/I2 AGAIN in cell 3.

Also I only have 3 options in the fill dialogue box:  Copy Cells, Fill Formatting Only, and Fill without Formatting. Which is what's causing that. 

As far as the solutions are concerned. I've seen:

  • The solution is supposed to be Advanced - Automatically Flash Fill checked. But mine is checked.
  • I've seen another option to make sure "Show Paste Options button when content is pasted". This does nothing
  • I've seen another option to Reset and/or repair the Microsoft Application form the Windows button. This does nothing.

Extremely frustrating. 

any ideas anyone?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2019-01-15T18:41:13+00:00

Thank you Neha,

The problem has mysteriously vanished from whence it came. It probably required a full restart.

Excel is its old self again.

I guess I should follow the first motto: If in doubt...restart :)

Thanks

Jon

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-01-15T09:30:44+00:00

    Hi Jazzmankg,

    By default, the fill handle and drag-and-drop editing is turned on in Excel so that you can drag the mouse to move and copy cells. To make sure it’s enabled, go to File>Option>Advance and **Enable fill handle and cell drag-and-drop,**once enabled, this option is enabled for all the sheets in the workbook.

    To test, create a new workbook, type 1 in A1, 2 in A2; select A1:A2; move mouse point to fill handle (note change in cursor shape - see screen shot); drag down to A10.

    To utilize fill handle, you must drag the fill handle  to copy data or to fill adjacent cells with a series of data.

    You can further try the following suggestions, see if there’s any change:

    1. Please check if you have any custom add-in installed which may be reflecting the behavior. To check, follow the steps below:
    • In the Excel application create a new document, click File > Options > Add-Ins.
    • At the bottom of the dialog box, change the Manage drop-down to COM add-ins, and select Go.
    • Clear the checkbox for any enabled COM add-ins. select OK.

        2. Try running Excel in safe mode. For this, please check this articlefor detailed steps on how to start Office apps in safe mode.

      3. Try Online repair

    • Click Start, in the search box typeRun
    • In the Run box, type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
    • Select **Microsoft Office 365,**click Change>Online Repair>Repair.

    If fill handle still didn’t work, please provide the following information:

    1. Provide the screenshot of Office 2016 Product Information. To get this screenshot, open Excel/Word 2016 on your system, click File>Account, capture the screenshot of all the information mentioned under Product Information.
    2. Since when are you facing this issue? Is it after an update?
    3. Check in a new workbook and see if fill handle works.

    Thanks,

    Neha

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-01-15T07:46:55+00:00

    Its not clear as to whether you repaired Office via Programs & Apps>Select MS Office>Modify/repair........ a repair progress window opens?

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-01-15T07:55:32+00:00

    The Reset/Repair (grey box) was run and a box is check marked as having run.  There is no change to this issue after doing so

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