locking or grouping rows

J

Jimquist

I have made an address book and find that I am unable to sort it.
I "think" I need to group several rows.
1st row: name > street number > children names > Home Phone
2nd row: > city, state, zip > more names > Cell Phone
3rd row: > > more names > e-mail
4th row: blank - separator

Is it possible to group those 4 rows to be able to sort on name in column 1?
I'd like to keep this format rather than spread the information across 8 -
10 columns.
tia, Jim
 
D

Dave Peterson

You can do it, but keeping your data in this format makes things like this much
tougher than using one row per record.

Try this against a saved copy of your workbook--if it doesn't work, close
without saving!

Insert a new column A.
Insert a new row 1 for headers.

Put this in A2 and drag down.
=IF(MOD(ROW(),4)=2,B2,A1)&"--"&ROW()

(It'll look funny, but it should sort ok.)

Now select column A and do Edit|copy, Edit|paste special|Values

Now sort your data using column A as the key. Delete column A when you're done.
 
J

Jimquist

This doesn't work for me. Probably I don't understand what you mean by
"drag down"
thanks for trying -
 
D

Dave Peterson

There's a little square at the bottom right of the selected cell indicator box.
If you don't see it, you can turn it on via:

Tools|Options|Edit tab|Check the "allow cell drag and drop"

After you type that formula into the top cell into A2, rightclick on that
autofill button and drag down. When you let go, you'll be prompted for what you
want to do.

Choose "copy cells".
 
J

Jimquist

Well Mercy Sakes.... it Does work!
Thanks much Dave, but I think you are correct about keeping each record on a
separate line. I don't need "complicated" - so it's back to the drawing
board!
thanks again, Jim
 

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