That's it! Used an underscore instead and we're off and running. Thanks,
Dave. btw, I can think of uses for the char(10) tip as well :)

On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 18:35:39 -0600, Dave Peterson wrote:

From xl2002's help (for: Troubleshoot sorting)

Apostrophes (') and hyphens (-) are ignored, with one exception: If two text
strings are the same except for a hyphen, the text with the hyphen is sorted
last.

Can you use a period instead?

or even
=b1&char(10)&c1
This will be like an alt-enter if the cell is set for wrap text--else it'll show
a little square.


Mike H wrote:

The hypen character "-" seems to be ignored in a sort that I'm using.

Here are the details:
I have a worksheet that uses vendor name and partnumber in the form of
"vendor-part" that then uses vlookup to query a vendor file with these
fields applicable fields:

column a column b column c
=B1&"-"&C1 vendor part

Strangely, to me, a sort using column A doesn't produce the same results
as a sort using column B plus column C.

For example, using only column A for the sort:
A-C75A A C75A
ACB-15 ACB 15
A-CG1850 A CG1850

using column A + column B
A-C75A A C75A
A-CG1850 A CG1850
ACB-15 ACB 15

As a result, if I use TRUE in the range_lookup portion of the vlookup
function I have no idea what the outcome will be. I don't know if
vlookup is considering a sorted array in the same way that SORT is.

I suppose this is a two-part question:
1) what would the result be of a lookup for A-C8? I seem to get A-C75A
using a column A sort and #NA using a column B+C sort.
2) given the sorting behavior, how do I want to sort this table, or
which character besides a hypen can use to get both good vlookup results
and sensible visual results as well?
--
Mike H


--
Mike H