you would need to set up a dummy column that extracts the name/text that you
want to sort on and use that as the key. There is no setting for sort that
will directly support doing what you want with the data in the format you
have.

Try doing Text to Columns from the data menu to separate your data. (copy
this column do the next, then do the data=Text to columns on that column).

--
Regards,
Tom Ogilvy

"Mark" wrote in message
...
I am using Excel 97, I have a list of names in column A of
a worksheet like the following

Julie Smith (Accounting)
Albert George (Supplies)
Fred Merrydale (Finance)

I want to be able to sort them in alphabetical order with
their surname in ascending order.

To be even greedier it would be ideal if I could also sort
them into departmental order.

Can anyone please assist me with some code which could do
these options for me?

Thanks


Mark