beginner with row-sorting issue

[Schwatster]

Here is my thing: I have a set of data that has a column of key numbers (not
in any order) with data referring to each number in the same row. I can sort
the key numbers in order of date because i know what numbers correspond to
what date (another sheet has both on it). I need to sort the rows in the
other sheets to be in the same order as the ones sorted by date.

If that isn't clear then i'll try this:
B Numbers (sorted by date): 6, 90, 31, 60, 39, 74...
A Numbers: 6,31, 39, 60, 74, 90...
I need to sort the rows of the A numbers to match that of the B numbers

Thanks for your help

 

[Tom Hutchins]

You need to pull in the dates from your B number sheet so you can sort the A
number data the same way (based on the dates). To do this, use the Vlookup
function. For this example, I will assume your key numbers are in column A on
both sheets (they don't have to be, however).
- On the B number sheet, insert a new column B (immediately to the right of
the key numbers. Copy the whole date column & paste it to the new column B.
You can delete this column when we're done).
- On the A number sheet, insert a new column B (immediately to the right of
the key numbers.) Enter this formula into B1 and copy down through all rows
of data:
=VLOOKUP(A1,'B Numbers'!A:B,2,FALSE)
where 'B Numbers' is the name of the B number sheet (edit the formula to
match your actual sheet name).
- If any of the the A key numbers can't be found on the B number sheet, the
formula will return #N/A.
- Copy the whole column with the Vlookup formulas and paste it in place as
values.
- If your dates are really dates, they will be retrieved by Vlookup as
numbers (like 39448). You can use Format >> Cells >> Date to make them look
like dates again.
- Sort all the data on the A number sheet by the dates in column B. It
should now be in the same order as the data on the B number sheet.
- You can delete the columns (B) you added on both sheets if desired.

Hope this helps,

Hutch