variable effects of dragging

**Sebastian1942** · 12-28-2009, 06:44 AM

I have found an inconsistency in different PCs with respect to the method of producing incrementation when dragging a grab handle to an adjacent cell. In some PCs just dragging produces the effect, in others a key has to be held down during the drag. I'm sure there are detailed instructions about such a setting, but I have been unable to find them. Can you help ?

**martindwilson** · 12-28-2009, 08:40 AM

checkout tools /options/edit allow cell drag and drop

**Sebastian1942** · 12-28-2009, 09:17 PM

Thank you for that suggestion
HOWEVER
That option toggles whether or not the grab handle will appear in the cell's bottom right corner; it does NOT toggle the feature I was asking about : whether dragging will copy or increment the value dragged.

**shg** · 12-29-2009, 01:16 AM

Hold down the Ctrl key to increment the series. See http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...874771033.aspx

**Sebastian1942** · 12-29-2009, 12:17 PM

Thank you
For the specificity of the instruction 'Hold down the Ctrl key"
and for the hyperlink to useful hints and techniques.
HOWEVER
Neither address my query - Where are the options for setting the variability that MOST DEFINITELY exists between PCs ? My experience of that variability leads me to assume that there must be a toggle switch for whether holding down CTRL achieves copying or incrementing.

The hyperlink presents another quandary - in the section EDITING DATA :
the 3rd last dot point "To copy cell contents, hold down CTRL while you drag."
but the third dot point "To increment a single number, hold down CTRL while you drag the fill handle at the corner of the selection."
They have in common the instruction to 'hold down CTRL while you drag", yet they achieve copying AND incrementation !

**shg** · 12-29-2009, 12:22 PM

To increment a single number, hold down CTRL while you drag the fill handle at the corner of the selection.

To move cell contents, drag the border of the selected cells to another location. To copy cell contents, hold down CTRL while you drag.

**deadlyduck** · 12-29-2009, 12:29 PM

The result of the drag/ CTRL operation will vary depending on where exactly you place the mose pointer on the cell and also on the cell's contents.

If you place it on the lower right 'fill handle' and hold CTRL down, this will increment numeric values. If the cell content is text, it will copy the content to the new cells.

If you place the pointer on the edge of a cell (NOT on the fill handle) and hold CTRL, you'll copy the cell contents to the new cell. If you don't hold CTRL down, you'll move the cell contents to the new cell. This applies whether the content is numeric or text.

**Sebastian1942** · 12-30-2009, 07:58 AM

All this added detail and specificity is really appreciated and will help.
HOWEVER
it does NOT address the issue I raised :
<<that the same techniques applied to different PCs had different effects>>
so I premise yet again, that there must be some toggle switch.
It is the how,when & where of that switch that I have been asking about.

**martindwilson** · 12-30-2009, 08:25 AM

dragging depends on whats' selected. a number 1 in cell a1 will only copy on drag however 1 in a1 ,2 in a2 when both selected and dragged will increment.
dates increment on drag. other things will if you have custom lists
have a look at each pc's custom lists(tools/options/custom lists)

**Sebastian1942** · 12-30-2009, 08:52 AM

Thank you for even more DETAILED info.
I am aware of Custom Lists, and it stands to reason that PCs could differ with respect to that/them.
I may have to accept THAT as the Final Solution, because (for the sake of experimenting) I no longer have access to the PC which alerted me to drag behaviour different from that in my own PC.

The resolute silence from the forum on 'Different Behaviour in Different PCs' has convinced me that if there is a toggle switch, it must be REALLY esoteric and well hidden (and best left alone ?).

I again thank the various lads for their cummulative contributions to my enlightenment.

A properous 2010 to all of you, and beyond.