How to keep Column headers with Autofilter & Freeze Panes

[Rich D]

I have a spreadsheet (Excel 2003) with which I use Autofilter a lot. I also
freeze the panes just below the column headers (titles). With this in place,
once I scroll down past the first page, my column headers disappear. I've
tried putting in blank rows & moving the row on which I place the cursor when
setting up the autofilter. What can I do about this problem? thanks for
your help.

 

[Dave Peterson]

Make sure you apply the freeze panes with all the rows showing.

 

[Rich D]

Dave,

Thanks for responding. Unless I'm doing something wron, however, when I
apply Autofilter to the column header (that's right, isn't it?), the actual
column headers disappear leaving just the Autofilter arrows for the columns.

 

[Dave Peterson]

What row are your headers in?
What row contains the arrows for the autofilter?
What row contains the start of the data?

If you want to see rows 1 and 2 (say) then
Show all the data (if you haven't already)
select A1 (just to make sure it's visible)
select A3
Window|Freeze panes

Everything above the selected cell (A3) will be visible.

Is something else happening when you do it?

Dave,

Thanks for responding. Unless I'm doing something wron, however, when I
apply Autofilter to the column header (that's right, isn't it?), the actual
column headers disappear leaving just the Autofilter arrows for the columns.

 

[Rich D]

Dave,

My headers are in rows 1 & 2. I apply the autofilter (and the arrows
appear) in row 2. Data starts in row 3.

I did what you said. and all is fine until I put a criteria in one of the
filters. Then when the data is actually filtered. I lose the 2nd (row
2)header row from view and the filter arrows appear in row 1. Under that
appears the filtered data.

 

[Dave Peterson]

I don't have a guess. But this isn't normal behavior for excel.

If you do the same thing in a test worksheet in a new workbook, do you see the
same behavior?

Dave,

My headers are in rows 1 & 2. I apply the autofilter (and the arrows
appear) in row 2. Data starts in row 3.

I did what you said. and all is fine until I put a criteria in one of the
filters. Then when the data is actually filtered. I lose the 2nd (row
2)header row from view and the filter arrows appear in row 1. Under that
appears the filtered data.

 

[Rich D]

Dave,

I played around with a fresh test worksheet applying the filter with the
cursor in row 1 and then row 2. It works just fine. I think the problem may
come because on my main worksheet, I have merged cells in row 1 and unmerged
cells throughout roww 2. This seems to dictate where the filter arrows
appear and thus, the problem.

Thanks for your help. I'll play with it from here.

 

[Rich D]

Dave,

I kept playing with my test worksheet and again had the same problems. It
must have something to do with the wrong combination of merged cells,
autofilter and freeze panes. It doesn't seem to be consistent when applying
autofilter as to which row it puts the arrow in...but I'm sure it must have
something to do with the other items I mentioned. What a poser!! If you
have the time to play with it and can be of any further help, I'd appreciate
it...if not, thanks anyhow, for your help thus far.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Welcome to the wonderful world of merged cells.

This is just one of many problems caused by merged cells.

Avoid them like the plague.

Try center across selection. Will do the job most times.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP