Excel 97 - Sorting 5

[mussome916]

Can anyone tell me how specifically does excel 97 sort? If I click on a cell and click on the sort button, it sorts some columns and not others. I think it has to do with the format of the cell but I don't know exactly. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[SHardy]

You are probably better off highlighting the entire range to be sorted and using the Sort option from the Data menu.

 

[DaleWatson123321]

If you simply click on the "first cell" (as you describe), Excel will highlight (select) all the data in the adjacent columns/rows - BUT it will STOP at a column which does NOT have any data. Therefore, if your data includes any columns which do NOT have data, you should instead use the method of FIRST hightlighting (selecting) the ENTIRE block (range) of data, and THEN using the SORT function.

Hope this helps. Let me know.

Regards, ...Dale Watson dwatson@bsi.gov.mb.ca

 

[mussome916]

I would highlight the entire range of cells to be sorted but I have more than 3 columns to sort and when you click on data, it doesn't give you the option of sorting all the columns. It only lists some of the columns. I tried to copy all the info and paste it to another workbook and sort but it sorted even less columns than before.

 

[bkpchs237]

If you have more than 3 columns to sort then you'll have to perform more than one sort and in a particular order, but still using the Data, Sort menu command.

For example if you have five columns to sort you would map out your sort options by column, let's call them 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. You would first select the entire range, choose, Data, Sort and sort on the 4th and 5th columns. Then you would choose the entire range again and sort on columns 1, 2 and 3. This would accomplish the sort on multiple columns beyond the defaults of the program.

Hope this helps.

 

[mussome916]

I finally got it to sort correctly. You all have been very helpful. Thanks a bunch.

 

[JVFriederick]

bkpch237 :
Your advice is excellent, and quite often overlooked by users when dealing with large amounts of data.

 

[DaleWatson123321]

I have to agree also. The suggestion by "bkpchs237" is good for spreadsheet users to become aware of.

JV, you and I were forced to use this type of sorting option years ago. But then, ALSO many years ago, Lotus 123 added an option (to Release 5.0 if not before) wherein it became possible to include EXTRA columns for sorting. I'm not sure of the MAXIMUM number of "extra" sort columns which could be added.

BUT THE POINT IS... Microsoft is (again) LONG OVERDUE in following the lead of Lotus 123.

MICROSOFT, I HOPE YOU ARE LISTENING ...some sort of response would be heart-warming and reassuring that you care.

Regards, ...Dale Watson dwatson@bsi.gov.mb.ca

 

[JVFriederick]

Geeeze. In addition to being old, I "write old" too ?

I agree about the sort feature. Some things are better, some worse. This feature seems to be simple to bring up to a better standard.

 

[DaleWatson123321]

JV,

It soon becomes obvious that you "write old" when your inherent wisdom comes to the fore.

...Dale Watson

 

[JVFriederick]

HA !!!

Thanks. I needed something to take my mind, albeit briefly, off the events of today.