Data Entry and Cell Editing
Scope
This domain tests how values are entered, recognized and edited: data types, AutoFill, Flash Fill, Paste Special, Find and Replace, and validation.
Entry rules
Text aligns left by default, while numbers and dates align right. Typing 00123 drops the leading zeros because the entry is stored as a number; pre-format the cell as Text or apply a custom format such as 00000 to preserve them. A leading apostrophe forces text entry. Alt+Enter inserts a line break inside a cell; F2 opens edit mode, Esc cancels an entry and Enter confirms it.
Filling and editing
The fill handle copies or extends a series. Dragging a date increments it by one day; Ctrl+drag copies. Right-drag offers Fill Series, Fill Formatting Only and Fill Without Formatting. Flash Fill (Ctrl+E) recognizes a pattern from examples, such as splitting a full name, but it is not a live formula and does not update when the source changes.
Paste Special and Find
Paste Special can paste Values only (removing formulas), Formats, Column Widths, or Transpose rows to columns; operation options add, subtract, multiply or divide. Find and Replace supports wildcards (* for any run of characters, ? for one character, ~ to escape them) and can search the sheet or the whole workbook.
Worked example
A column of product codes has lost its leading zeros. Selecting the column, applying Text format and retyping does not restore them. The reliable fix is a custom number format of 00000 for numeric codes, or an apostrophe prefix for text codes. The reasoning: formatting changes display only and cannot recreate digits already discarded.
Traps
- Applying Text format after entry does not convert existing numbers.
- Numbers stored as text are ignored by SUM and COUNT and show a green error triangle.
- Undo history is cleared when a file is saved and closed.
- Replace All across a workbook can alter unintended sheets.