How can I keep the date from increasing when I copy it on the Numbers app?

I want to copy a date from once cell to the one underneath it. When I click on the cell and pull down the little yellow dot, Numbers puts the next date into the cell instead of copying the date. For example, if I start with May 2, 2025, when I pull it down, expecting it to copy, it instead puts May 3, 2025 in the lower cell. How do I prevent this from happening?




[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on May 2, 2025 4:53 PM

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May 4, 2025 12:14 AM in response to Mario Milosevic

Hi Mario,


It is what it is. Dragging the yellow dot down on a single cell or Menu > Table > Autofill Cells will increment.

Copy, select the cells where you want to repeat (not increment) the copied value and Paste.

Done.


I find Fill Down (or Up, or Left or Right) very useful to increment values.

Numbers is very good at detecting a series, but it does need a hint:


Drag the yellow dot down:


Regards,

Ian.


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May 4, 2025 2:29 AM in response to Mario Milosevic

Mario Milosevic wrote:

SG, Think of a database of expenses with many entries that have the same date. That would be a perfect place to be able to override incrementation.


For the date column just insert a formula that refers to the previous row (e.g. =A2 in cell A3) and fill that formula down. Numbers will then automatically enter the same date when you add a new row to the bottom of the table.


SG

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May 3, 2025 6:38 PM in response to Mario Milosevic

Mario Milosevic wrote:

I was looking for a way to override this particular Numbers feature.


I find the incrementation-when-you-fill feature helpful, and have trouble imagining situations where I wouldn't want it, especially given that copy-paste is so accessible.


Copy-paste is even possible without hands leaving the keyboard. Select the cell, command-c, shift-command-downarrow, command-v.


SG



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How can I keep the date from increasing when I copy it on the Numbers app?

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