I'm guessing this is because the name "database" has been assigned to a
range. This is usually a hidden name so it would not appear in the Define
Name dialog.

To delete it, open the VBE (Alt-F11) and the Immediate window (Ctrl-g),
paste this in and press Enter:

Names("database").Delete

--
Jim
"Bob" wrote in message
...
| No hidden rows or columns, no named ranges, no print areas, no frozen
| rows/columns, but sort acts as if there are 209 header rows (after select
| all, data, sort). OK if the precise full data range is selected