John Walkenbach's Favorite Excel 2010 Tips and Tricks

Chapter 2. Data Entry

In this part, you'll find tips related to entering data into an Excel workbook. Entering data into an Excel worksheet is easy, but there's an excellent chance that the tips here will improve your overall efficiency.

Tips and Where to Find Them

• Tip 29 Understanding the Types of Data 73

• Tip 30 Moving the Cell Pointer after Entering Data 77

• Tip 31 Selecting a Range of Input Cells before Entering Data 78

• Tip 32 Using AutoComplete to Automate Data Entry 79

• Tip 33 Removing Duplicate Rows 81

• Tip 34 Keeping Titles in View 83

• Tip 35 Automatically Filling a Range with a Series 84

• Tip 36 Working with Fractions 87

• Tip 37 Resizing the Formula Bar 89

• Tip 38 Proofing Your Data with Audio 91

• Tip 39 Controlling Automatic Hyperlinks 93

• Tip 40 Entering Credit Card Numbers 95

• Tip 41 Using the Excel Built-In Data Entry Form 96

• Tip 42 Customizing and Sharing AutoCorrect Entries 98

• Tip 43 Restricting Cursor Movement to Input Cells 100

• Tip 44 Controlling the Office Clipboard 102

• Tip 45 Creating a Drop-Down List in a Cell 104

Understanding the Types of Data

When you type something into a cell in a worksheet, Excel goes to work and makes one of the following decisions regarding the type of data you entered:

• You entered a value.

• You entered a date or time.

• You entered some text.

• You entered a formula.

If you understand how Excel interprets the data you enter into a cell, you can save yourself a bit of frustration when Excel's decision about what you entered doesn't correspond to what you had in mind.

Entering ...