Getting Started Guide

Figure 112: Defining a new fill series
Using selection lists
Selection lists are available only for text, and are limited to using
only text that has already been entered in the same column.
To use a selection list, select a blank cell and press Ctrl+D. A
drop-down list appears of any cell in the same column that either
has at least one text character or whose format is defined as Text.
Click on the entry you require.
Sharing content between sheets
You might want to enter the same information in the same cell on multiple sheets, for
example to set up standard listings for a group of individuals or organizations.
Instead of entering the list on each sheet individually, you can enter it in all the
sheets at once. To do this, select all the sheets (Edit > Sheet > Select), then enter
the information in the current one.
Caution
This technique overwrites any information that is already in the cells
on the other sheets—without any warning. For this reason, when you
are finished, be sure to deselect all the sheets except the one you want
to edit. (Ctrl+click on a sheet tab to select or deselect the sheet.)
Validating cell contents
When creating spreadsheets for other people to use, you may want to make sure they
enter data that is valid or appropriate for the cell. You can also use validation in your
own work as a guide to entering data that is either complex or rarely used.
Fill series and selection lists can handle some types of data, but they are limited to
predefined information. To validate new data entered by a user, select a cell and use
Data > Validity to define the type of contents that can be entered in that cell. For
example, a cell might require a date or a whole number, with no alphabetic
characters or decimal points; or a cell may not be left empty.
Chapter 5 Getting Started with Calc 127