Before using the fill handle to autofill, what must you establish?

Before using the fill handle to autofill, what must you establish?

• A. A border.
• B. A data validation rule.
• C. A color.
• D. A pattern.

Answer: (D)

Pattern recognition is what makes autofill work. The fill handle extends data by continuing a pattern it detects in the selected cells. To use it, you must establish a pattern—such as a numeric sequence, a date sequence, or a repeating text pattern—by entering the initial values that define that pattern (usually two or more cells). Once the pattern is in place, dragging with the fill handle will generate the subsequent values automatically. Without a defined pattern, autofill can only copy the existing value(s) and won’t know what to project next.

Pattern recognition is what makes autofill work. The fill handle extends data by continuing a pattern it detects in the selected cells. To use it, you must establish a pattern—such as a numeric sequence, a date sequence, or a repeating text pattern—by entering the initial values that define that pattern (usually two or more cells). Once the pattern is in place, dragging with the fill handle will generate the subsequent values automatically. Without a defined pattern, autofill can only copy the existing value(s) and won’t know what to project next.