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Excel - Filling Blanks With Value From Above - Episode 847

997 views · Published 8 January 2009 · 1:51 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: MrExcel.com · 2009 · Education

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Microsoft Excel Tutorial - Fill Blank Cells with Value from Above.

Welcome back to another MrExcel netcast! In this episode, we tackle a question from our first viewer from Japan, Si Chi. Si Chi has a data set where the numbers in Column B are filled in, but the corresponding data in Column A is missing. So, how do we quickly fill in those blanks in Column A without manually copying and pasting?

Well, the solution is actually quite simple. We start by selecting the first blank cell in Column A and then using the shortcut Ctrl+G to go to the lower left-hand corner and choose "Special". From there, we select only the blank cells in Column A. Now, here comes the magic - just three keystrokes! Press the equal sign, then the up arrow, and finally Ctrl+Enter. This will enter the same formula in all of the selected blank cells, copying the data from the cell above until it reaches a non-blank cell.

But wait, we're not done yet. We still need to convert those formulas into values. To do this, we select all of the data in Column A again, and then go to Edit, Copy; Edit, Paste Special Values. But here's a little trick - instead of manually selecting each cell, we can simply right-click on the right edge of the selection, drag right, drag left, and then choose "Copy Here As Values Only". This will quickly paste the values into all of the selected cells, filling in those pesky blanks throughout the data set.

And just like that, we've solved Si Chi's problem and saved ourselves a lot of time and effort. Thank you, Si Chi, for sending in your question, and thank you to all of our viewers for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe to our channel for more helpful Excel tips and tricks, and we'll see you next time for another netcast from MrExcel.

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Seiichi from Japan asks how to fill in blank cells in column A with the value above the blank. Episode 847 shows you how.

Table of Contents:
(00:00) Introduction 
(00:13) Question from Japan 
(00:23) Incomplete data in Column A 
(00:33) Solution using Ctrl+G and Special 
(00:43) Three keystrokes to copy formula 
(00:53) Formula copied in all blank cells 
(01:04) Copy and paste values 
(01:16) Quick way to paste values 
(01:26) Clicking Like really helps the algorithm

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