This operation requires the merged cells to be identically sized.

[Earl Brant]

Using Excel 97.
I have Columne A-H, Lines 2 - 428 (line 1 is a header/title of that column).
Added information to line 429. Highlighted A-H, 2-49 and tried to Sort by
going to >Data>Sort>Column A>Ascending>OK...and get the error message
"This operation requires the merged cells to be identically sized."
Went to web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q157111#appliesto
Still cannot get columns to sort with line 429 in proper alpha order.
Had no problems with this until I added line 429.

Can you be of assistance?

Thank You!!!

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
do you have merged cells in rows 2-428 or in row 429. You probably have
different formats in these rows.

On a sitenote: If you use merge cells I'd recommend not to do this.
They often cause more problems than doing something good

 

[Debra Dalgleish]

Select all the cells, and choose Format>Cells
On the Alignment tab, remove the check mark from Merge Cells
Click OK
Try the sort again, and it should work correctly.

 

[Earl Brant]

Debra,

THIS WORKED...THIS WORKED...THIS WORKED...

THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU

 

[Ken Wright]

Begs the question though as to why you had a merged cell in there in the first
place. If you don't know what it was, how do you know you didn't just break
something. Would suggest taking a quick look through the data and making sure
nothing was dependent on that cell. You likely as not have a blank cell now in
one of the cells in Col B:H whereas it was merged before. It won't be in A
because unmerging would leave data in the cell to the left. Never hurts to
check, even if you don't find anything.

 

[Earl Brant]

KEN,

Its not that I didn't know what the merged cell WAS.............what I ment
was that I DON"T KNOW what a merged cell IS.....really...I have no idea what
it is...would you be so kind as to explain it in layman's (novice) language.
Thanks a Million,
Earl

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
Excel has the 'feature' to combine two or mor cells into one (goto
'Format - Cells - Alignment' after selecting several cells and check
'merged cells). This may be useful for formating purposes (e.g. merge
tow heading cells to easily center data above to columns).
Though: I think nearly all would recommend (me included) NOT to use
this feature. It will almost definetly cause trouble (as you
encountered by yourself). I would suggest playing with this featur for
short while (to learn its functionality) and then forget about it

 

[Ken Wright]

short while (to learn its functionality) and then forget about it

Amen to that.

 

[JABED KOWSAR]

Thanks Debra Dalgleish