Default column in Excel sort - Office 2007

[Tim Childs]

Hi

in versions of Excel before 2007, the current column selected on the
worksheet would be the default column for the primary sort order. This seems
to have vanished in Excel 2007 which starts the sort with an "empty" dialog
box?

If you like the old ways of Excel, can this be put in place in Excel 2007?

Thanks

Tim

 

[Gord Dibben]

I don't find that to be the case with Excel 2003 and earlier.

The default sort-by column will be the left-most column of a multi-column
selection.

e.g. select column C of a contiguous range from A to D

Excel will select A to D as the sort range and column A as the sort-by column.

This can lead to errors if user is not paying close attention.

Excel 2007 forces user to choose a column to sort on.

Better, in my opinion.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Gord Dibben]

To answer your question..................I know of no way to change 2007's
behaviour.


Gord

 

[Tim Childs]

Hi Gord

Thanks for your posts

I think I should have explained myself in more detail.

If in Excel 2003 I use the facility for Excel to "guess the data block" (the
current region thingey) - then the default data column for sorting is the
one that is currently selected with the cursor. I used to use that a lot in
Excel 2003 as it is easier to select using the cursor on screen than a
dropdown (IMHO!).

Thanks

Tim

 

[Gord Dibben]

I cannot replicate what you are seeing in 2003 probably because I am doing it
wrong.

Columns A through D are filled.

Select column C then hit the "current region thingey"

A to D become selected with A1 as activecell and column A as sort-by column.

Is "current region thingey" the Toolbar Icon for Current Region?


Gord

 

[Tim Childs]

Sorry, Gord

I mean that with a single cell selected anywhere in a data block, then when
the Data Sort menu items are pressed, the processor "guesses the current
region correctly and also chooses the column that has the cursor selection
as the default column for sorting. Just tried it in 2003 and it does do this
for me - honest!

thx

Tim

 

[Gord Dibben]

Never doubted you.................just could not replicate in first couple of
tests.

Tried with a new sheet and some test data and got the results you get.

Excel must have been remembering my previous sort options.

To sum up...................My first test results were bogus<g>

I still don't know how to change the settings in 2007 but I do believe that
method is more error-proof.

I have never let Excel "guess" what I wanted sorted.


Gord

 

[Tim Childs]

Hi Gord

Thanks for that. I commend the guesswork of Excel as it is freat for simle
data areas where you know it'll guess correctly but each to their own. I
have used it for Data Filter too!

bw

Tim