What is Flash Fill(Ctrl E) in Excel?
Ctrl E or FlashFill is one of Excel software’s most used shortcuts.
Flash Fill automatically fills your data when it senses a pattern.
How to use Flash Fill(Ctrl E) in Excel
- First of all, consider the following database that contains people’s names and ages.
2. We want to separate names and ages. In the first row, we type the name “olivia” and age “25” manually.
3. In the second row, under Name column, press Ctrl E.
4. In the second row, under the Age column, press Ctrl E.Flash Fill automatically fills your data when it senses a pattern.
Examples of Flash Fill(Ctrl E) in Excel
Example 1:
How to merge the year, month, and day cells to make the date?
1. we want to combine the year, month, and day cells to make the date.
2. In the second row, When cell D3 is selected, press Ctrl E.
If we change the format of the first cell, the rest of the cells will change automatically.
Example 2:
How to split the date cell to make the year, month, and day separate?
In some cases, we need to enter more than one sample to give us the correct output. In the example below, if we enter only one item, the output will give a wrong result.
Here we enter two cases as examples that give correct results.
Example 3:
How to remove dashes between words and split them into multiple cells?
In this case, we want to separate the age, weight and height of people from their names and place them in separate cells.
In the second row, When cells (B3 or D3 or E3) is selected, press Ctrl E. We will see amazing results in a fraction of a second.
Example 4:
How to add text or specific characters to Excel cells؟
In this example, we want to send Happy New Year messages to some of our friends. With the Flash Phil feature, there is no need to write duplicate texts anymore.
In the second row, When cell B2 is selected, press Ctrl E.
Example 5:
How to add space between words in excel automatically?
In this example, we want to add a space between the first and last name.
In the second row, When cell B2 is selected, press Ctrl E. Excel looks for the first capital letter and then separates it and puts a space between the two words.
Example 6:
How to add parentheses between words in excel automatically?
In this example, we want to put the last name of each person in parentheses.
In the second row, When cell B2 is selected, press Ctrl E. Excel looks for the first capital letter and then separates it and puts parentheses between the two words.
Example 7:
How to rearrange words in a text in excel automatically?
In this example, we want to change the place of first name and last name.
In the second row, When cell B2 is selected, press Ctrl E.
Excel looks for the first capital letter and then separates it and change the place of first name and last name.
What is the purpose of Ctrl E or Flash Fill in Excel?
Flash Fill automatically fills your data when it senses a pattern.
Which version of excel supports Flash Fill ?
Flash Fill is only available in Excel 2013 and later.
Errors in Ctrl E or FlashFill in Excel
If you enter a non-numeric number, the output show #VALUE! or #NAME? error.
