XL2000: Entering Data in List May Not Extend Formats as Expected

Typing data in a cell to the right of or below a list with the same formats may not extend the format as expected.

This problem occurs when you type data as the next item in a list and that new data is not similar to the data previously entered. This may force Excel to apply a format different from the format in the list you are trying to extend. For example, this can occur if you type text when the list contains all numeric values.

To work around this problem, clear both the format and the data in the cell and then retype the data. On the Edit menu, click Clear, and then click All.

NOTE: The list format is not extended if you clear only the formats and retype the data.

In general, if you type data down a column or across a row and then format the cells, Excel extends that formatting to the next cell when you type data that is similar to the cells above or to the left and the following conditions are true:

• Three of the five previous cells in the list are similar in data type and formatting.
  
  -and-
  
  
• There is no custom formatting already applied to the cell in which you are entering data.

There may also be further limitations and conditions. For additional information about how auto-extended formatting works, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

For more information about turning on and off extended formats, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type turn on and off extended formats and formulas in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.