sorting numbers more than one decimal

[Guest]

I have pasted an example of the numbers below. Why does the sorting start
over at the bottom of the list? I want the last number on the list
87200.028.1 to appear after the fourth number 87200.028 and then 87200.029
would be after 87200.028.1

I realize that this is directly related to the faxt that the first numbers
have one decimal and the ones at the bottom of the list have two decimals.
What can I do about it?

87200.022
87200.023
87200.027
87200.028
87200.029
87200.031
87200.031
87200.032
87200.032
87200.033
87200.034
87200.035
87200.035
87200.036
87200.037
85600.403.1
86100.708.1
86500.403.2
87200.028.1

 

[Dave Peterson]

I'd use an extra column and convert all the numbers to text (and no change to
the text values).

If your data is A1:Axx, then insert a new column B and
=a1&""
drag down

And sort your range based on column B.

 

[Myrna Larson]

It starts over because the values with a single decimal point are stored as
numbers; those with 2 decimal points are stored as text. Excel sorts numbers
before text. You have to conver all of the "numbers" to text.

 

[Guest]

Daves example worked perfectly!
Myrna, Thank you for the information that does explain WHY.
However, simply formatting the cells as text and sorting didn't work. I had
tried that before posting. It does make me curious as to why formatting as
text didn't get the desired results.
But, anyhow Thank You! Everyone

 

[Dave Peterson]

Formatting a cell that contains a number doesn't change the value from number to
text.

But if you make a change (simply hitting F2|Enter is enough) will change it,
though.

If you put =isnumber(a1)
with 123 in a1, you can fiddle with the format and see when/if it changes.