How can I get Microsoft Excel to automatically display 500 consecutive numbers?

Question

I have 500 consecutive numbers which one could be drawn in a raffle. I need to display these numbers in an Excel sheet (let's say 60,000-60,500) so that if my number is chosen I can search the database very quickly to see if my number pops up (let's say 60,402). How do I get the Excel program to generate these numbers in a consecutive series so that I do not have to type 500 numbers in the program? Can someone tell me the steps in doing this?

Answer 1

2 ways you can do it, maybe 3. fastest would be type the first 3 numbers in a row, like A1=60000 A2=60001 A3=60002 then select those 3 numbers and put your mouse at the bottom right corner of the selection and (there should be a small black box there) and the cursor should look like a + then click/hold mouse and drag down 500 rows and it will auto increment. other way would be to write a macro.

Answer 2

I can help you with the quick way to number the rows. This is from the Microsoft Excel Help, the topic is Automatically number rows

"Unlike other Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel does not provide a button to automatically number data. However, you can easily add sequential numbers to rows of data by filling a column with a series of numbers or by using the ROW function.

Fill a column with a series of numbers

Note These numbers are not automatically updated when you add, move, or remove rows. You can manually update the sequential numbering by selecting two numbers that are in the right sequence, and then dragging the fill handle to the end of the numbered range.

Select the first cell in the range that you want to fill.
Type the starting value for the series.
Type a value in the next cell to establish a pattern.
How?

For example, if you want the series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5..., type 1 and 2 in the first two cells. If you want the series 2, 4, 6, 8..., type 2 and 4.

Select the cells that contain the starting values.
Drag the fill handle (fill handle: The small black square in the lower-right corner of the selection. When you point to the fill handle, the pointer changes to a black cross.) across the range that you want to fill.
To fill in increasing order, drag down or to the right. To fill in decreasing order, drag up or to the left.

Is the fill handle missing?

To display the fill handle on a selection of cells, click Options on the Tools menu, click the Edit tab, and then select the Allow cell drag and drop check box.



Use the ROW function to number rows

Note These numbers are updated when you sort them with your data. However, the sequence may be interrupted if you add, move, or remove rows. You can manually update the numbering by selecting two numbers that are in the right sequence, and then dragging the fill handle to the end of the numbered range.

In the first cell of the range that you want to number, type =ROW(A1).
The ROW function returns the number of the row that you reference. For example, =ROW(A1) returns the number 1.

Drag the fill handle (fill handle: The small black square in the lower-right corner of the selection. When you point to the fill handle, the pointer changes to a black cross.) across the range that you want to fill."

Answer 3

Put the first number in a cell, say 60,000 (Cell A1). In the next cell put in the formula +A!+1....Then copy that formula to the 498 cells below and your done