Auto number generation in Excel

**Menelaus** · 2 June 2009, 22:00

Originally posted by speedo View Post

I am setting up a spreadsheet to hold invoices/expenses - has anyone got some code which will allow me to auto generate an invoice number in sequence? i.e. row 1 = invoice 1 and potentially row 10 = invoice 2 etc....

Any help would be appreciated.

Sorry. I'm sure I'm missing the point here but can't you do:

A2=A1+1?

**DimPrawn** · 3 June 2009, 08:22

Originally posted by Menelaus View Post

Sorry. I'm sure I'm missing the point here but can't you do:

A2=A1+1?

Show off.

**lightng** · 3 June 2009, 13:58

You don't even need a formula.

Put two numbers in sequence e.g. 1 in a1 and 2 in a2.

Highlight the cells with a mouse and drag the bottom corner down. Excel will pick up on the sequence and generate the other numbers for you.

**TykeMerc** · 3 June 2009, 15:23

Autofill handle, bottom right corner of the cell. Grab and drag down, it will increment sequentially.

**lightng** · 3 June 2009, 16:54

If there are gaps between successive invoices, and these gaps follow no pattern e.g. invoice numbers in a2 a5 a12, you can use a formula like...

in A12 =max(a$1:a11) + 1

then copy / paste the last invoice number when ever you need one.

Auto number generation in Excel