a sorting dilemma
 

hi all,

i have a simple spreadsheet as follows:

excel row,name,type
1,john,email
2, , phone
3,cathy,pager
4, , cell phone

I want to sort by type.
The problem is 2 rows represent a person. The column Name is merged, which
takes up 2 rows. But the Column type can have either merged cells or
individual cells.

Anyone know of different ways to solve this?

thanks,
rodchar

a sorting dilemma
 

There are two design errors here to overcome. A true database style
environment uses one row per data set, you've got two. You should
consider redesign into a standard format to alleviate this problem and
all future ones that stem from non-standard design.

Merged cells are for presentations. On the sheets you "work" with, you
should not employ Merged Cells since it breaks so many formulas and
closes doors to simple solutions.

If presentation is key in an excel sheet, use another sheet to gather
data together and format that sheet for presentation. Leave your raw
data in a simple, manageable layout.


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a sorting dilemma
 

The only fix I can give you is to unmerge the rows. Then, just enter the
person's name in each of the rows. That would fix it.

Suggestion would be to highlight the column and uncheck merge cells. Then,
in the first blank row, enter = and reference the cell just above. Copy this
formula and do Edit - Go to - Special - Blanks and paste. Copy the column
again and paste-special values to get rid of the formulas...

"rodchar" wrote:

hi all,

i have a simple spreadsheet as follows:

excel row,name,type
1,john,email
2, , phone
3,cathy,pager
4, , cell phone

I want to sort by type.
The problem is 2 rows represent a person. The column Name is merged, which
takes up 2 rows. But the Column type can have either merged cells or
individual cells.

Anyone know of different ways to solve this?

thanks,
rodchar

a sorting dilemma
 

Thanks everyone. This was very helpful,
rod.

"Sean Timmons" wrote:

The only fix I can give you is to unmerge the rows. Then, just enter the
person's name in each of the rows. That would fix it.

Suggestion would be to highlight the column and uncheck merge cells. Then,
in the first blank row, enter = and reference the cell just above. Copy this
formula and do Edit - Go to - Special - Blanks and paste. Copy the column
again and paste-special values to get rid of the formulas...

"rodchar" wrote:

hi all,

i have a simple spreadsheet as follows:

excel row,name,type
1,john,email
2, , phone
3,cathy,pager
4, , cell phone

I want to sort by type.
The problem is 2 rows represent a person. The column Name is merged, which
takes up 2 rows. But the Column type can have either merged cells or
individual cells.

Anyone know of different ways to solve this?

thanks,
rodchar