Go to the first free cell to the right of data in the spreadsheet
Type -
=left(a1,5)
Copy the formula to all cells in the column
Sort on that column

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

"Ronnie" wrote in message
...
I'm new with excell.......so could you be REALLY specific

"Bill Ridgeway" wrote:

You need a helper column by which to sort.
=left(a1,5)
will give you the 5 leftmost characters

Sort on the helper column (to bring together cells that will need to be
changed) and amend any unwanted characters to give 5 significant
characters

As a refinement you could highlight the helper column and click on
<Edit<Copy<Edit<Paste special<Values<OK to change the output of all
formulas to text.

Now use this column to sort.

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

"Ronnie" wrote in message
...
ok...I have complied a list of my DVD collection and what I am trying
to
do
is alphabatize the list. What problem I have when doing it is when I
click
sort button it always groups words like "A" and "The". I want it to
ignore
those words and focus on the word after "A" or "The"