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Let's say you want to create a fixed column of special characters to format a report or add periods to the end of a text column to provide a Tab leader similar to a table of contents. To repeat a character in a cell, use the REPT function.

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

How to copy an example

  1. Create a blank workbook or worksheet.

  2. Select the example in the Help topic.

    Note    Do not select the row or column headers

    Selecting an example from Help

    Selecting an example from Help

  3. Press CTRL+C.

  4. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.

    To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Show Formulas button.

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A

B

Formula

Description (Result)

=REPT(".",6)

Repeat a period (.) 6 times (......)

=REPT("-",4)

Repeat a dash (-) 4 times (----)

Function details

REPT function

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