One way to try ..

Select the column

Click Data Text to Columns check "Delimited" Next

In step2, enter a period "." in the "Other:" box, click Next

In step3, in the Data preview pane:
Select the 1st col, then check "Do not import column (Skip)" under Col data
format. Note that the 1st col header will change to "Skip"
Repeat to skip the 2nd col

Click Finish

The above will remove the desired parts
Now you could just Data Sort to taste on the column
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Rgds
Max
xl 97
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GMT+8, 1° 22' N 103° 45' E
xdemechanik <atyahoo<dotcom
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"Stan" wrote in message
...
I have a col of Pope names.
3. St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88) (total line is a single cell)
4. St. Clement I (88-97)
5. St. Evaristus (97-105)
I want to eliminate [3. St.] and sort by name Anacleus only.
Is there a way to do this?
Thanks!