How do I repeat characters within a single cell in Excel?

[Ron]

I have a left over Lotus 123 file with a cell in which a character or
combination of characters will repeat to fill that cell. I have forgotten
the key strokes used to create that original cell.

I imported that file into Excel 2002, and it works well but the only way I
can make new cells repeat characters within them is by copying the original
cell and then pasting its format into the new cell.

How can I make one or more characters repeat themselves withn a cingle cell?

 

[JE McGimpsey]

You can find this in XL Help ("About custom number formats").

In a custom format, follow the asterisk character (*) with your desired
character to repeat.

 

[T. Valko]

Another possibility:

Select the cell(s) in question
GotoFormat>Cells>Alignment tab
Text alignment
Horizontal>Fill
OK

 

[Dave Peterson]

And you could toggle a transition setting so that excel behaves more like Lotus
123:

Tools|Options|transition tab|check Transition navigation keys

Then
\a
will fill the cell with aaaa's

And it will change the way Home works, ctrl-Home, and tab, too.