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How to auto number merged cells in Excel?

Author Xiaoyang Last modified

How could we fill series numbers into a list of different size merged cells in Excel? First in our mind is to drag the Autofill handle to fill the merged cells, but, in this case, we will get the following warning message, and can’t fill the merged cells.

a screenshot of the alert dialog box when auto filling merged cells

Since the fill handle does not support the merged cells, here, I can talk about some other tricks for solving this problem.

Auto number / fill merged cells with VBA code

Auto number / fill merged cells with VBA code

The following VBA code can help you to number the selected merged cells quickly. Please do as follows:

1. Hold down the ALT + F11 keys, and it opens the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

2. Click Insert > Module, and paste the following code in the Module Window.

VBA code: Auto number merged cells

Sub NumberCellsAndMergedCells()
	'Update 20141028
	Dim Rng As Range
	Dim WorkRng As Range
	On Error Resume Next
	xTitleId = "KutoolsforExcel"
	Set WorkRng = Application.Selection
	Set WorkRng = Application.InputBox("Range", xTitleId, WorkRng.Address, Type: = 8)
	Set WorkRng = WorkRng.Columns(1)
	xIndex = 1
	Set Rng = WorkRng.Range("A1")
	Do While Not Intersect(Rng, WorkRng) Is Nothing
		Rng.Value = xIndex
		xIndex = xIndex + 1
		Set Rng = Rng.MergeArea.Offset(1)
	Loop
End Sub

3. Then press F5 key to run this code, and a prompt box will pop out to let you select the merged cells you want to fill, see screenshot:

a screenshot of selecting cells after running the VBA code

4. After selecting the merged cells, and click OK, now, your selected merged cells have been filled with sequential numbers, see screenshot:

a screenshot showing sequential numbers displayed before the merged cells

Related articles:

How to auto number or renumber after filter in Excel?

How to quickly merge adjacent rows with same data in Excel?

How to unmerge cells and fill with duplicate values in Excel?

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