autofill with libreoffice

vixen1500

Is there a way of repeat filling in details?

I wish to list seven names numbered 1 to 7 and then enter the same names again in a table - hopefully without having to retype them

aerostar

Not exactly sure what you mean - 7 names in what format ?

Usual way is copy and paste.

EchoLocation

You don't specify which LibreOffice program you're using - Writer or Calc? I assume it's Calc, but can you give an example of the data you are using. It's not always possible to autofill - it depends on the data itself - although there may be other ways to acheive the intended results.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

as already suggested, copy and paste, just highlight the block you want, then copy, (right click on block, click copy, or use Ctrl button and c) then on new sheet, paste, (right click, paste, or Ctrl and v).

vixen1500

thanks for the replies - was hoping for a quicker way than just copy and paste,

Only other way I could think of was find and replace.

I have 14 names that need to be entered 5 times each on a document. Different names each time the document is printed.

So was thinking number each place 1 to 14 x 5 replacing each number for a name.

But I thought there was someway of auto filling, like when you send out a set letter just changing the name as needed.

EchoLocation

Can you post a screen shot example of your data so I can understand the format of the data and the file.

If it's a simple autofill (in Calc) you can just use the grab handle of the cell and drag it down or across - this of course depends on the format of the data. eg. type vixen1500 in a cell and drag it down you will get vixen1501, vixen1502, vixen1503 etc. Also see Edit > Fill... for options.

As for the example of a letter changing the name each time it's printed, that is Mail Merging. Is that what you're trying to do?

Nada666

It should, of course, be possible to create manually your own custom list with a look-up table but that would work just for sorting - I don't see you being able to Insert... custom list... in the same way as with Excel.

(By custom list, btw, we mean things like {Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday} - they are indexed automatically 1 to 7 - they can be sorted in that order (even when not all present) or the entire series can be inserted from just one cell.) (Except a custom list are ones you can make yourself other than included ones (like days of the week)).

Nada666

Okay, here's where to define your custom lists in LibreOffice:

type your list and select it
Tools -> Options -> expand 'LibreOffice Calc' with the '+' to reveal -> Sort Lists
Click the right hand 'copy' at the bottom to create from your selected list

Edit: unfortunately that's not much help - I can only see how to create drop-down menus or to sort a list using custom lists - doesn't seem available for fills or inserts.