Sorting columns

J

Joyce

Hi,

I have about 26 columns and every column has about 50 rows with similar
values (#'s). I want to sort the columns out in groups so i know which ones
have the most similar values.

Everytime i sort them out the column's values mix up and i no longer know
which value belongs to which column.

I tried to give every column a diferent color and then sort out the every
row at a time from smallest to largest. I'm sure there is a much easier way
to sort out the the entire columns with out mixing up the values that each
one has.

Help?!
 
K

Kassie

Select Col A:Z (That's 26, isn't it?), and then sort by the column of your
choice.
Otherwise you will mix everything up. this way, if you decide to sort by
say Col W, that will happen, but each row wil remain related.

--
HTH

Kassie

Replace xxx with hotmail
 
J

Joyce

Hi Kassie,

Thanx for your reply.

I tried to select col A:Z and then click on the sort dialog box:

* OPTIONS: left to right ( on the "Sort By" gives me only rows as a
choice)
top to bottom ( gives me "Columns")

Going with either one...i end up with all my columns' rows mixed up....

May be i didn't understand what u ment...
 
K

Kassie

When I said COL A:Z, and yes, that is not what i said, I meant the data in
these columns. To rephrase. If you need to select A1:Z100, for example,
then do that. Then click on Data, Sort, select the col you want to sort by
from the dropdown box, and OK out. I am qwfully sorry for this misguidance!

--
HTH

Kassie

Replace xxx with hotmail
 
J

Joyce

Yes. That's what i'm trying to do. This is what i have:

A B C D E F G
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 20 20 20 20 20 20
25 20 20 20 20 20 20
12 12 12 12 12 12 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 10
12 15 13 15 15 15 15
20 20 20 20 20 20 20
13 12 12 12 12 12 15
5 5 4 4 4 4 5
20 20 15 20 20 20 15
13 13 13 13 13 13 13
14 14 12 14 14 14 14
24 20 20 20 20 20 20
15 15 15 15 15 15 15
17 15 15 15 15 15 15
13 13 14 14 14 14 15
20 20 20 20 20 20 20


* That's just a small part (they go up to 26 columns & may be 70 rows) *

As you can see, every column has similar values on their rows. I want to
sort the columns without alterting the individual rows. In other words, when
i sort them out i don't want to end up with A2 in D7. If that happends I
wouldnt know what is what.

Whenever i try to sort them out i end up with something like:

A B C D E F G
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 3 2 2 2 2 2
3 3 2 2 3 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 3 4 4 4 3
4 8 5 4 4 5 4
4 4 3 4 3 4 3
5 5 4 4 4 4 5
6 10 5 6 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 6 6 7
6 6 6 6 6 6 7


That i dont' want. It's sorting from smallest to largest but for every
individual column.

Am I explaning myself?
 
J

Jim Cone

Insert two blank rows directly above the data.
In the first row enter consecutive numbers in each cell 1 thru 26.
In the second row enter a number in each cell that corresponds
with the "new" position for the column.
Select all 26 columns.
In the "Sort" dialog box, click the "Options" button and check
'Sort left to right' and click ok.
The dialog box then allows you to specify the row to sort by (new positions row).
(the consecutive numbers in the first row allows you to return to the
original column order when desired)
--
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA


"Joyce" <[email protected]>
wrote in message
Yes. That's what i'm trying to do. This is what i have:

A B C D E F G
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 20 20 20 20 20 20
25 20 20 20 20 20 20
12 12 12 12 12 12 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 10
12 15 13 15 15 15 15
20 20 20 20 20 20 20
13 12 12 12 12 12 15
5 5 4 4 4 4 5
20 20 15 20 20 20 15
13 13 13 13 13 13 13
14 14 12 14 14 14 14
24 20 20 20 20 20 20
15 15 15 15 15 15 15
17 15 15 15 15 15 15
13 13 14 14 14 14 15
20 20 20 20 20 20 20


* That's just a small part (they go up to 26 columns & may be 70 rows) *

As you can see, every column has similar values on their rows. I want to
sort the columns without alterting the individual rows. In other words, when
i sort them out i don't want to end up with A2 in D7. If that happends I
wouldnt know what is what.

Whenever i try to sort them out i end up with something like:

A B C D E F G
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 3 2 2 2 2 2
3 3 2 2 3 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 3 4 4 4 3
4 8 5 4 4 5 4
4 4 3 4 3 4 3
5 5 4 4 4 4 5
6 10 5 6 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 6 6 7
6 6 6 6 6 6 7


That i dont' want. It's sorting from smallest to largest but for every
individual column.

Am I explaning myself?
 
J

Joyce

I'm sorry Jim,

I did as you said.
Inserted 2 blank rows. Numbered the 1st one 1-26 and gave the second row
"new" positions"

When i go to the Sort Dialog Box, click "Sort left to right" (after
sellecting all 26 columns) and then ok it...but everything seems to stay the
same. I don't see any change. The columns stay from 1-26.

--
Joyce @ fMX


Jim Cone said:
Insert two blank rows directly above the data.
In the first row enter consecutive numbers in each cell 1 thru 26.
In the second row enter a number in each cell that corresponds
with the "new" position for the column.
Select all 26 columns.
In the "Sort" dialog box, click the "Options" button and check
'Sort left to right' and click ok.
The dialog box then allows you to specify the row to sort by (new positions row).
(the consecutive numbers in the first row allows you to return to the
original column order when desired)
--
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA


"Joyce" <[email protected]>
wrote in message
Yes. That's what i'm trying to do. This is what i have:

A B C D E F G
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 20 20 20 20 20 20
25 20 20 20 20 20 20
12 12 12 12 12 12 12
12 12 12 12 12 12 10
12 15 13 15 15 15 15
20 20 20 20 20 20 20
13 12 12 12 12 12 15
5 5 4 4 4 4 5
20 20 15 20 20 20 15
13 13 13 13 13 13 13
14 14 12 14 14 14 14
24 20 20 20 20 20 20
15 15 15 15 15 15 15
17 15 15 15 15 15 15
13 13 14 14 14 14 15
20 20 20 20 20 20 20


* That's just a small part (they go up to 26 columns & may be 70 rows) *

As you can see, every column has similar values on their rows. I want to
sort the columns without alterting the individual rows. In other words, when
i sort them out i don't want to end up with A2 in D7. If that happends I
wouldnt know what is what.

Whenever i try to sort them out i end up with something like:

A B C D E F G
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 3 2 2 2 2 2
3 3 2 2 3 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 3 4 4 4 3
4 8 5 4 4 5 4
4 4 3 4 3 4 3
5 5 4 4 4 4 5
6 10 5 6 6 6 6
6 6 6 6 6 6 7
6 6 6 6 6 6 7


That i dont' want. It's sorting from smallest to largest but for every
individual column.

Am I explaning myself?
Click to expand...
 
J

Jim Cone

In the dialog box, did you select the row with the new positions?
--
Jim Cone
Portland, Oregon USA



"Joyce"
<[email protected]>
wrote in message
I'm sorry Jim,
I did as you said.
Inserted 2 blank rows. Numbered the 1st one 1-26 and gave the second row
"new" positions"

When i go to the Sort Dialog Box, click "Sort left to right" (after
sellecting all 26 columns) and then ok it...but everything seems to stay the
same. I don't see any change. The columns stay from 1-26.
--
Joyce @ fMX




:
-snip-
" button and check
'Sort left to right' and click ok.
The dialog box then allows you to specify the row to sort by (new positions row). '<<<<
Click to expand...
-snip-
 
J

Joyce

I did.

It seems like i finally got it right! Thank you both, Kassie and Jim, for
your help!! :)
 

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