It sure seems like the easiest approach would be to put the data in separate
columns.

Depending on how the data was entered, you could extract the values with a
couple of formulas:

If you actually indented those type entries with extra spaces, you could do
something like this:

(Assumes the data is in A1:Axx)

Put this in B1:
=a1
put this in B2:
=IF(LEFT(A2,1)=" ",B1,A2)
select b2 and drag down to Bxx.

Put this in C1:
=""
Put this in C2:
=IF(LEFT(A2,1)=" ",TRIM(A2),"")
Select c2 and drag down to Cxx.

Then select columns B:C
edit|copy
edit|paste special|values

Select columns A:C
sort the selection with a primary key of column B and a secondary key of column
C.

Delete columns B:C when you're done.
=======
If you didn't use extra spaces to indent those types, then how do you know
what's a category and what's a type?




-random- wrote:

I doubt this can be done, but it sure would be handy.

Column is grouped by conceptual blocks, (note, there is not second column of
unique data) eg:

Cheese
Cheddar
Blue
Swiss
Bread
Italian
Bran
French

I want to sort by alpha so that I get (evenutally):

Bread
Bran
French ...
Cheese
Blue
Cheddar ...

Aside from setting up the table in two columns (Bread/Cheese; Types) and
making sure Bread/Cheese is in each column-cell that correspondes to the
types and THEN sorting - is there another way to do this? Grouping?
Protection?

thx

--

Dave Peterson