Number Question

[Rebecca]

Hi. I'm using Excel 2007. I have a row with a cell that contains a number,
say 4444. I want to select this number and drag down so the following cells
below this row and cell with a number with appear as 4444.1, the next row and
cell below this as 4444.2, ... 4444.10, 4444.11, and so on, by dragging down
the mouse. Can this be done? And how should I format the column? As a
number, as general, as ...? I tried holding down the Ctrl key, or the Alt
key, but the result was: 4444.1, 4445.1, etc.

If I format the column as a number, when I resort, the problem appears after
4444.10, because the resulting sort will be 4444.1, 4444.10, 4444.11, etc. In
other words, I have to have the decimal point after the number, and I have to
sort in the proper order, that is, 1 to 10 or 1 to 20, etc. If this can be
done, and if you understood my fuzzy description, please explain in simple
English and step by step. Thank you very much.

 

[OssieMac]

Hi Rebecca,

Not really sure that I fully understand your question because some of your
example seems to have the numbers going backwards.(4444.2, ... 4444.10,
4444.11) Was this intentional?

However, to get numbers to run in a series, if you insert the first 2
numbers like 4444.1, 4444.2 and then select the 2 numbers and hook on to the
bottom right corner and drag they well continue in the same series. The
increment can be anything you like. 4444.11, 4444.13 will increment by 0.02.

 

[Rebecca]

Hi. Yes, you did misunderstand, and I am to fault.

This problem involves sorting and resorting. I have a number in a column
(Col. G) in a cell, say 4444.1. I want to drag down with my mouse so it will
have decimal points and appear as follows:

4444.1
4444.2
4444.3
....
4444.10
4444.11 etc.

How can this be done?

I occasionally will sort on other columns, but then resort in Column G. The
problem is that the sorting will not be in order but as follows:

4444.1
4444.10
....
4444.2
4444.20 etc.

So I am actually asking two questions: first, how can I add decimals, and
second how can I format the column so the sorting is in the correct order. I
apologize for not being able to express myself more clearly.

 

[Rebecca]

Oops! I did what you said to do and it works perfectly. Again, just what I
wanted. Thanks, OssieMac.

 

[Stan Brown]

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:46:00 -0800 from Rebecca

Hi. I'm using Excel 2007. I have a row with a cell that contains a number,
say 4444. I want to select this number and drag down so the following cells
below this row and cell with a number with appear as 4444.1, the next row and
cell below this as 4444.2, ... 4444.10, 4444.11, and so on, by dragging down
the mouse. Can this be done?

No. You can drag and fill with equal intervals, but the interval from
4444.1 to 4444.1 is +.1, the interval from 4444.9 to 4444.10 is -.8
(negative .8), and the interval from 4444.10 to 4444.11 is +0.01.

You really can't think of your cell contents as numbers if you want
4444.1 and 4444.10 to be different, let alone 4444.9 coming before
4444.10.

If you actually want "4444." as text preceding a sequential number,
then one way is a helper column. Put 1 through 99 (or whatever) in
the helper column, let's say it's A1:A99. Then in B1 put
= "4444." & A1
and click and drag that down to B1:B99.

The sort you mentioned in a follow-up would use that helper column as
primary key.