Could somebody please tell me how to work the "proper" formula so that it
will change a column of names from all caps to just first letter cap?

I can get the formula to work for the first cell, but I can't get it to copy
or paste, or paste special to the column below it. (I don't use excel very
often and therefore have limited knowledge of these functions.)

Thank you!

jim_in_mich

Jim,
One easy way is to insert a new column next to the column that has the
non-proper (upper or lower) case words or names. Presuming that you'd have
the names such as JOHN DOE in A1 and MARY SMITH in A2, for column B1 you'd
enter "=Proper(A1)" [leave out the quotes but enter everything else]. Now
copy/paste from cell B1 to the other cells in this column.
There is also a program/script to do this but the above should work for you
as it's what I use for 'columnized' data. The script could convert the
entire worksheet rather than just one column at a time.
Go Michigan State! [You won't be doing this Excel on this Sat evening, of
course!]
Tom

"jim_in_mich" wrote:

Could somebody please tell me how to work the "proper" formula so that it
will change a column of names from all caps to just first letter cap?

I can get the formula to work for the first cell, but I can't get it to copy
or paste, or paste special to the column below it. (I don't use excel very
often and therefore have limited knowledge of these functions.)

Thank you!

jim_in_mich

Hi Jim,
To copy the formula down you can use Ctrl+D
after selecting the area downward. from your
initial formula =Proper(A1)

You can use the fill handle
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/fillhand.htm

But if you would like to change things in place without extraneous
original column you can use a macro to change things in place.
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/proper.htm
which is what I would really suggest as much easier to having to
code worksheet formulas and then removing the formulas with
copy (Ctrl+C), Edit, Paste Special, Values, which is rather
awkward..
---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"Tom" wrote in message ...
Jim,
One easy way is to insert a new column next to the column that has the
non-proper (upper or lower) case words or names. Presuming that you'd have
the names such as JOHN DOE in A1 and MARY SMITH in A2, for column B1 you'd
enter "=Proper(A1)" [leave out the quotes but enter everything else]. Now
copy/paste from cell B1 to the other cells in this column.
There is also a program/script to do this but the above should work for you
as it's what I use for 'columnized' data. The script could convert the
entire worksheet rather than just one column at a time.
Go Michigan State! [You won't be doing this Excel on this Sat evening, of
course!]
Tom

"jim_in_mich" wrote:

Could somebody please tell me how to work the "proper" formula so that it
will change a column of names from all caps to just first letter cap?

I can get the formula to work for the first cell, but I can't get it to copy
or paste, or paste special to the column below it. (I don't use excel very
often and therefore have limited knowledge of these functions.)

Thank you!

jim_in_mich