AutoCorrect for data entry

Typing a long organization or person name takes a lot of time and often causes typing errors and inconsistencies. To resolve this issue, you can introduce abbreviations and expand them through the AutoCorrect feature.

To assign an abbreviation or sequence of characters to the fragment of the text, follow these steps:

   1.   On the File tab, click the Options button:

   2.   In the Excel Options dialog box, on the Proofing tab, under AutoCorrect options, click the AutoCorrect Options... button:

   3.   In the AutoCorrect dialog box, under the option Replace text as you type, enter your custom entries. (E.g. name of the text is "JSM", and the text is "Jonathan Smith from Bank of America"):

The length of an AutoCorrect entry is limited only by the available memory. After entering or selecting an AutoCorrect entry, you must give it a unique name.

• Don't use a common word to name an AutoCorrect entry unless you alter that word.

For example, don't name an entry Mr. Instead, precede it with an asterisk or other character to make it unique, such as *Mr. When you don't make the word unique, Word inserts the AutoCorrect entry whenever you type that word, whether you want it to or not. It will require too much effort to revert each auto correction if you have chosen a common word.

   4.   Click Add.

Note: Excel shares your AutoCorrect list with other Office applications. Any AutoCorrect entries you created in Word will also work in Excel or Outlook.

To rename or delete an AutoCorrect entry, follow these steps:

   1.   Open the AutoCorrect dialog box.

   2.   Do one of the following:

• To change the text of an AutoCorrect entry, select the AutoCorrect entry name in the list, change the text and then click the Replace button:
  
• To change the name of an AutoCorrect entry, select the AutoCorrect entry name in the list and then click Delete. Type a new name in the Replace box, and click Add.
• To delete an AutoCorrect entry, select the entry you want to remove and click Delete.

If you don't really need this AutoCorrect to convert the text back to your original typing, just press Ctrl+Z to undo the change.

See also this tip in French: Correction automatique pour la saisie de données.