Flash Fill

Freebeginner 15 min4 tasks0/48 pts

Flash Fill fills a column from examples. Type the result you want for the first row, then press Ctrl+E (Data → Flash Fill). Excel works out the pattern (which word, which letters, what punctuation) and fills the rest. It is perfect for one-off clean-ups. It writes plain values, not formulas, so it does not update when the source changes; use a formula (LEFT, TEXTBEFORE, CONCAT…) when the data will change.

Syntax

Type one example → Ctrl+E

Example: A2 holds "John Smith". Type John in B2, press Ctrl+E, and every first name appears. If a row comes out wrong, type a second example and press Ctrl+E again.

Common mistakes

Leaving a blank column between the data and the examples: Flash Fill only looks at the block you are in.
Giving an ambiguous example (e.g. a name where first and last are the same).
Expecting the results to update later: Flash Fill results are typed values.

TRIM & CLEAN Functions AVERAGE Function

Topics/Text Functions

Flash Fill

Freebeginner 15 min4 tasks0/48 pts

Syntax

Type one example → Ctrl+E

Example: A2 holds "John Smith". Type John in B2, press Ctrl+E, and every first name appears. If a row comes out wrong, type a second example and press Ctrl+E again.

Common mistakes

Leaving a blank column between the data and the examples: Flash Fill only looks at the block you are in.
Giving an ambiguous example (e.g. a name where first and last are the same).
Expecting the results to update later: Flash Fill results are typed values.

TRIM & CLEAN Functions AVERAGE Function