Len

The usual problem with bad sorting of numerical data is that some of the data
is Numerical and some is Text. The two sort differently.

What looks like a Number may be Text.

Try copying an empty cell then select your range of "numbers" and Paste
SpecialAddOKEsc.

This operation should change all "text numbers" to real numbers.

Try your sort again.

Gord Dibben XL2002

On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 00:32:10 +0100, "Len Dolby"
wrote:

I have problem with a small database - it will not sort.
That is, it DOES change the data around, but not in any comprehensible way.
Having selected the database block, I requested "sort" on last column,
expecting to see a descending numeric order. I got garbage.
I cannot determine exactly what the order is, but it's certainly neither
numeric nor alpha. At least the "garbage" will "Undo" (reverts to original)
Nor is it related to the underlying reference cells which yield the number
Data Sort option is (correctly) set to sort "top to bottom" in descending
order - expected result, the data re-presented with last column in decending
order from 18 to 0.
.
Construction - 11 columns x 39 rows. No blank columns, rows or cells..
1st 2 columns are text (names), the remaining 9 are all numbers ranging from
0 to 18.
There are NO column headers. All the numeric cells are identically sized.
There are no merged cells.
All the numbers are calculated or derived from elsewhere in the spreadsheet,
i.e all function results or additions of disparate cells. All are valid - no
hashes/errors.

I've tested "sort" on a straightforward set of number columns - it works
fine, on single "direct-keyed" nuimbers !

HELP please.

Len