Sorting Alphanumerics

[CBritt]

I have a list of values that I'm sorting but I'm not getting the result
I want. Here's an example of what I'm doing:

If I have these values:
1000
9999
12AB
1200

I'm getting these results:
1000
1200
9999
12AB

The alpha characters are apparently sorting to the bottom. But I wan
to see this:
1000
1200
12AB
9999

I know I've seen Excel sort on the first character, then the second
etc, regardless of the alpha.

Is there an option somewhere that changes how it sorts? I'l
appreciate any help you can offer.

Thanks
Chery

 

[Lady Layla]

Make sure all cells are formatted as text.



: I have a list of values that I'm sorting but I'm not getting the results
: I want. Here's an example of what I'm doing:
:
: If I have these values:
: 1000
: 9999
: 12AB
: 1200
:
: I'm getting these results:
: 1000
: 1200
: 9999
: 12AB
:
: The alpha characters are apparently sorting to the bottom. But I want
: to see this:
: 1000
: 1200
: 12AB
: 9999
:
: I know I've seen Excel sort on the first character, then the second,
: etc, regardless of the alpha.
:
: Is there an option somewhere that changes how it sorts? I'll
: appreciate any help you can offer.
:
: Thanks
: Cheryl
:
:
: ---
: Message posted
:

 

[maxhugen]

Hi Cheryl

According to Help, you need to format the data as Text, and then i
*should* sort in correct alphanumerical order - except it doesn't!!!

I did finally "trick" it into sorting... had to resort to using th
apostrophe ( ' ) in front of "numeric" entries. This tells Excel t
interpret your entry literally.

So, 1000 would be entered as '1000. You will only see 1000, and i
sorts as expected.

Pretty uncool solution though!

HT

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

According to Help, you need to format the data as Text, and then it
*should* sort in correct alphanumerical order - except it doesn't!!!

If you first format the cells as text, and subsequently enter or paste in the
values, then it seems to sort in alpha order.


--ron