Introduction
The fill function in Google Sheets makes it simple to enter consecutive data. Consider the SEQUENCE function if you wish to raise or decrease the numbers in your series or fill all cells in an array.
While the SEQUENCE function is similar to the fill feature in many ways, it is the optional parameters that make it most useful. Want to fill a range’s columns and rows? Want to start at 525 and work your way down by 18? How about using dates for each of these? These are the kinds of things you can do using Google Sheets’ SEQUENCE function.
Concerning the SEQUENCE Function
The function’s syntax is SEQUENCE(rows, columns, start, step), with just the first parameter necessary.
Rows: The number of rows to be filled.
Columns: The number of columns to be filled. The formula assumes one column if it is not specified.
Start: The number that will start the series. If it is missing, the formula begins at 1.
Step: The amount by which each number in the series is increased or decreased. If each number is left out, the formula raises it by one.
Make use of the SEQUENCE Function.
Let’s look at how to utilize the SEQUENCE function and its parameters.
You’d use this formula to fill 10 rows in one column with a basic series of integers using the defaults for the optional arguments:
=SEQUENCE(10)
You would use the following formula for a series of integers filling 10 rows and two columns using the defaults for the other two optional arguments:
=SEQUENCE(10,2)
Take note of the series’ direction. It fills to the right, then to the left, then back to the right, as if reading a paragraph.
For a series with the same amount of rows and columns but beginning with 35, apply the following formula:
=SEQUENCE(10,2,35)
For a series with the same number of rows and columns, beginning with 35 and rising by 10, apply the following formula:
=SEQUENCE(10,2,35,10)
To lower the same sequence of integers by 10 instead of increasing it, apply the following formula:
=SEQUENCE(10,2,35,-10)
SEQUENCE INCLUDING CELL REFERENCES
If you like, you may utilize cell references for the start and step parameters. For example, we’ll fill 10 rows and two columns beginning with the number 5 in cell B2:
=SEQUENCE(10,2,B2)
And in this case, we’ll use the same parameters but multiply each integer by the value in column B1, which is 25:
=SEQUENCE(10,2,B2,B1)
To reduce the numbers by the value in cell B1, use a negative sign in front of the step cell reference:
=SEQUENCE(10,2,B2,-B1)
SEQUENCE OF DATES
One limitation of the SEQUENCE function is that it cannot be used to fill text, such as letters. However, if you need to fill a succession of dates, this method works.
We’ll fill 10 rows and two columns with dates beginning on January 1, 2022. The date argument is enclosed in quotation marks.
=SEQUENCE(10,2,"1/1/2022")
We’ll now extend the set of dates by 10 days:
=SEQUENCE(10,2,"1/1/2022",10)
The fill tool is perfect for filling text, formulae, months, or days. However, if you need to enter a succession of numbers for an unusual case, check out Google Sheets’ SEQUENCE function.
