sorting zip codes

[heather jackson]

I need help!!!!! I have 3000 addresses I need to sort by
zip code...only the zips include both 5-digit and 9-
digit. If I do a simple numeric sort then all the 5-
digit codes are listed first followed by the 9-digit
(which leaves 98702 sorted before 10786-5424, for
example).

What do I do? (Please provide very clear instructions if
you have a suggestion...I am not a regular user of
Excel...)

Thanks!

 

[Norman Harker]

Hi Heather!

Add 2 helper columns
First copy the complete set of codes from A to B
Now select B
Data > Text to Columns
Delimited
Next
Select the - as a delimiter
Next
Finish

Now Select all three columns of data
Data Sort
First sort criteria is B
Second sort criteria is C
OK

--
Regards
Norman Harker MVP (Excel)
Sydney, Australia
(e-mail address removed)
Excel and Word Function Lists (Classifications, Syntax and Arguments)
available free to good homes.

 

[Heather Jackson]

What an elegant solution! It worked perfectly.

Thanks!

Heather

 

[Norman Harker]

Hi Heather!

Always pleased to help and to know that a solution works for the
poster.

--
Regards
Norman Harker MVP (Excel)
Sydney, Australia
(e-mail address removed)
Excel and Word Function Lists (Classifications, Syntax and Arguments)
available free to good homes.