Though these look like numbers, they are being stored by Excel as text
values. One way to convert them is to select a blank cell somewhere
and click <copy, then highlight the offending "numbers" and Edit |
Paste Special | Add (check) | OK then <Esc. You should see the
numbers align to the right of the cell, then you can apply your sort
again.

Hope this helps.

Pete

On Mar 2, 10:26 pm, wrote:
Hello,

I recently downloaded some US Census data (NAICS codes) into Excel and
they have a cell format that I am unable to change. When I sort a list
of numbers (e.g. 10, 12, 101, 111, 112), rather than sorting these
numbers from lowest to highest (or vice versa), the numbers are sorted
as follows:

CURRENT SORT
10
101
111
112
12

DESIRED SORT
10
12
101
111
112

The list is being sorted as if the numbers have a hidden decimal after
the first two numbers. I have tried to altering the number format to
no avail. Does anyone have a suggestion for how I can change the cell
format so that the numbers sort properly?

Thank you in advance for your help.