Function to return the value in cell above

[smerrill]

I have a very long list of data (40,000 rows), small groups of which are each associated with one persons name, which is only listed at the top of the group. I need the name listed on each line to associate the all the data with a unique person. It will take about 10 hours to use autofill to populate these cells. Is there a function I can use to do this without running into a circular reference?

[VBA Noob]

See if this is what your after

http://www.contextures.com/xlDataEntry02.html

VBA Noob

[Ron Coderre]

Hopefully, your data is set up something like this:

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If that's true....try this:

Select from the 1st name down through the last blank celll to be associated with the last name.

Press [F5]........a shortcut for <edit><go to>
Click [special]....Check: Blanks......Click [OK]

Next....While all of the blanks are selected.....
Press =...press the [UP ARROW] key one time...
Hold down [CTRL] and press [ENTER]

Now every blank cell refers to the cell above it.

If you want to "hardcode" those values....
Select the column of names.
<edit><copy>
<edit><paste special>....Check: Values....Click [OK]

Does that help?