Hi!

One way....

Use a helper column and extract the first 8 digits from the p/n then sort on
that column.

Assume p/n's are in the range A1:A100:

A1 = 12345678, 2345, 6, 789, 8, 99999

Say the helper column is column D.

In D1 enter this formula:

=LEFT(A1,8)*1

This will extract the NUMBER 12345678

Copy down as needed

Then convert all those helper formulas to constants by selecting them and
then doing a Copy/Paste Special/Values.

Select the range to sort and sort on column D.

When done get rid of the helper values.

Biff

"Andyd" wrote in message
...
running excell 2002.
I have a list of part numbers starting 1xxxxxxxxx (8 digits total) and
ending 9(4 digits). Default will put the larger number of digits last but
I
need the first number of the sequence to be the primary sort number. eg:
12345678, 2345, 6, 789, 8, 99999. etc.
Any simple solution?