Sorting woes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anna Peekstok
  • Start date Start date
A

Anna Peekstok

Using Excel 97 on a Windows 2000 system...

I have a worksheet with four columns of data (Phase,
Project Name, Grant, Comments). Not all rows have data in
all columns. I want to sort them by project name. I have
inserted an empty row below the titles, and there is an
empty row below the last data row.

I click once in the Project Name column, then click on
the "sort" button, expecting my data to array itself
according to Project Name, with each row still having the
same information it had before, just in a different
vertical location. But that's not what happens.

Instead, the first three columns move as expected, and the
data in the fourth column just sits there. So the result
is that each row now has the correct Phase, Project Name,
and Grant, but incorrect comments. I have exhausted the
built-in help feature and have searched Google with no
luck in finding out why this is happening or what to do
about it; any pointers would be much appreciated.
 
-----Original Message-----
Using Excel 97 on a Windows 2000 system...

I have a worksheet with four columns of data (Phase,
Project Name, Grant, Comments). Not all rows have data in
all columns. I want to sort them by project name. I have
inserted an empty row below the titles, and there is an
empty row below the last data row.
Click to expand...

Anna

I'd remove the empty rows, Excel will remove them when you
sort anyway. If you select a column or a range and click
sort Excel will sort just the selection so any thing
outside the selection will stay where it is and be out or
order. Each row must have the Project name in the record.

Place the cursor in the table and choose Data, Sort and a
dialog box pops up. Choose Project name as the First sort
and say Phase for the next sort (again the second and 3rd
sort must be filled in).

You might like to insert a number for each row in column A
so the the data can be resorted into the original order.

Regards
Peter
 
I'd remove the empty rows, Excel will remove them when
you
sort anyway.
Click to expand...

Interesting -- I put them there in the first place because
Excel Help told me to.
Place the cursor in the table and choose Data, Sort and a
dialog box pops up. Choose Project name as the First sort
and say Phase for the next sort (again the second and 3rd
sort must be filled in).
Click to expand...

Thank you, Peter. I used the method you suggest, but
instead of just putting my cursor in the table I had to
select all of my columns and rows first (otherwise Excel
just selected the first three rows, as before). But when I
did that and chose Data -> Sort, it worked!

Cheers,
Anna
 
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