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Excel Flash Fill Wonder - Transform Data in Seconds - Episode 2041

1,708 views · Published 6 October 2016 · 4:11 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: MrExcel.com · 2016 · Education

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Microsoft Excel Tutorial - Flash Fill is like Formula by Example in Power Query but for the Excel grid.

Welcome to another episode of the MrExcel podcast, where we dive into all things Excel. In this episode, we'll be discussing one of the most amazing features in Excel - Flash Fill! If you're not familiar with Flash Fill, get ready to have your mind blown. It's a game-changing tool that can transform your data in just a few simple steps.

Before we get started, I want to mention that this episode is part of a series where I'll be sharing all the tips from my book. So make sure to check out the playlist by clicking the "i" on the top-right hand corner. Now, let's get back to Flash Fill. This feature was introduced in Excel 2013 and has been a lifesaver for many Excel users. It's perfect for tasks like parsing or concatenating text, and it can save you a ton of time and effort.

So how does Flash Fill work? Well, let's say you have a list of names and you want to rearrange them in a specific format. Normally, you would have to use formulas and functions to achieve this. But with Flash Fill, all you have to do is give it a sample of the desired format and it will automatically fill in the rest. It's that simple! And the best part is, you can make corrections after the fact, giving you even more control over your data.

But there are a few things to keep in mind when using Flash Fill. First, the new column where you want the results to appear must have a heading. Otherwise, Excel won't recognize that you're trying to use Flash Fill. Also, Flash Fill is not programmed to automatically fill in numbers, so you'll have to give it a pattern and then use the shortcut Ctrl+E to invoke it. But don't worry, I'll walk you through all of this in the video.

I hope you found this episode helpful and that you'll start using Flash Fill in your own Excel projects. And if you want even more tips and tricks, make sure to check out my book which is filled with over 40 spicy tips to take your Excel skills to the next level. Thanks for watching and I'll see you in the next episode of the MrExcel podcast!

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Table of Contents:
(00:00) Flash Fill!
(00:24) Introduction to Flash Fill feature in Excel 2013
(00:45) Demonstration of Flash Fill feature
(01:05) Example of using Flash Fill for text manipulation
(01:18) Correction option for Flash Fill results
(01:51) Limitations of Flash Fill with numbers
(02:28) Additional use for Flash Fill with text manipulation
(02:38) Shortcut for invoking Flash Fill
(02:56) Reminder to include column heading for Flash Fill to work
(03:26) Recap of Flash Fill feature
(03:36) Clicking Like really helps the algorithm

Flash Fill was introduced in Excel 2013
It is great for parsing (breaking apart) text
It is great for concatenating as well
Make sure the new column has a heading
Type the entry for the first row
Start to type the entry for the second row - the results will grey in.
Press enter to accept the results
You can correct an entry after Flash Fill and it will correct others that match the new pattern.
You can invoke Flash Fill with Ctrl+E
Flash fill tends not to work automatically with numbers.
But you can still use it for numbers by using Ctrl+E

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