How to Copy Dates Instead of Creating a Series in WPS Spreadsheets AutoFill
Question details
The user wants to fill multiple cells with the same date instead of letting AutoFill create a sequential date series.
- Product
- WPS Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user selects a date cell and drags the fill handle across adjacent cells, expecting the same date to be copied to those cells.
- Observed behavior
- AutoFill creates a date series such as consecutive days instead of repeating the original date.
Open the worksheet containing the date you want to copy and ensure the source date cell is selected before you use the fill handle.
Hold Ctrl while dragging the fill handle to copy dates
Use this method when you need to repeat the same date across adjacent cells without changing the AutoFill default behavior.
WPS Spreadsheets and Excel do not provide a setting to change the preferred AutoFill default for dates. Holding the Ctrl key while dragging temporarily switches the fill behavior from creating a date series to copying the original cell value.
Click the cell that contains the date you want to copy.
Hover over the fill handle in the lower-right corner of the selected cell, then press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
Drag the fill handle across the cells where you want the same date. Release the mouse button first, then release the Ctrl key.
Copy Dates in WPS Spreadsheets Without Creating a Series
WPS Spreadsheets gives you the same Excel-compatible AutoFill behavior. Hold Ctrl while dragging the fill handle to copy the same date into multiple cells, and keep working in .xlsx, .xls, and other Excel formats without switching tools.
- 1. Open the workbook in WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office, open WPS Spreadsheets, and load the worksheet that contains the date to copy.
- 2. Select the source date cell: Click the cell with the date you want to reuse across multiple cells.
- 3. Hold Ctrl and drag the fill handle: Press and hold the Ctrl key, then drag the fill handle over the target cells. Release the mouse button first, then release Ctrl.
- 4. Confirm the copied dates: Check that the selected cells now display the same date instead of a date series.
- 5. Save the workbook: Save the file in WPS Spreadsheets or choose Save As to keep it in .xlsx or .xls format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does dragging the fill handle create a date series instead of copying the date?
AutoFill recognizes date values and defaults to filling a series, such as increasing each cell by one day. There is no preference setting that changes this default, so holding Ctrl while dragging is the workaround.
Does the Ctrl-drag method work in WPS Spreadsheets like it does in Excel?
Yes, WPS Spreadsheets supports the same Ctrl+drag fill handle behavior. Select the date cell, hold Ctrl, drag the fill handle across the target cells, and release the mouse before releasing Ctrl.
Can I copy a date to multiple cells without dragging?
Yes. Select the range where the source date is the top cell, then press Ctrl+D to fill down with the same value. You can also use Copy and Paste for precise duplicates.
Is there a way to make AutoFill always copy dates by default?
No, WPS Spreadsheets and Excel do not offer a preferred AutoFill default setting for dates. The Ctrl-drag method is the standard way to temporarily override the series behavior.
Does holding Ctrl also copy formulas and numbers instead of filling a series?
Holding Ctrl can change AutoFill behavior for several content types, but the result depends on the cell content and the direction of the fill. For date cells, holding Ctrl forces a copy instead of a date series.
