Cannot sort data
 

Excel 2007

I have two columns of data. Column A is a text field and column B is a
number field. I want to sort the data, first by column A and then by column
B. When I use the Sort screen, the Order item for column A (text field) gives
the option A to Z or Z to A, which is correct. The Order item for column B
(numbers field) also gives the option A to Z or Z to A. This is incorrect. It
should give smallest to largest or largest to smallest.

I do have the option to go into the Custom List in the Order item and add
smallest to largest or larget to smallest. I have tried this but the sort in
colmn B does not come out correct.

Thinking the worksheet may be corupt, I copied columns A and B to another
worksheet and I am experiencing the same problem.

Any suggestions.

Thank you,

Bill

Cannot sort data
 

Are your number really numbers?

In an adjacent column enter =ISNUMBER(B1)

Copy down.

TRUE or FALSE?

If FALSE, format to General or Number then copy an empty cell and paste
specialaddokesc over your numbers.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP


On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:49:02 -0800, Bill
wrote:

Excel 2007

I have two columns of data. Column A is a text field and column B is a
number field. I want to sort the data, first by column A and then by column
B. When I use the Sort screen, the Order item for column A (text field) gives
the option A to Z or Z to A, which is correct. The Order item for column B
(numbers field) also gives the option A to Z or Z to A. This is incorrect. It
should give smallest to largest or largest to smallest.

I do have the option to go into the Custom List in the Order item and add
smallest to largest or larget to smallest. I have tried this but the sort in
colmn B does not come out correct.

Thinking the worksheet may be corupt, I copied columns A and B to another
worksheet and I am experiencing the same problem.

Any suggestions.

Thank you,

Bill

Cannot sort data
 

Gord:

I tired your suggestion as follows:

Test in adjacent cell if true or false
I got False
Formatted my number to Number
Copied an empty cell and paste special/add/okay


I then ran the True or False test again in an adjacent cell.

I got False again.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,

Bill








"Gord Dibben" wrote:

Are your number really numbers?

In an adjacent column enter =ISNUMBER(B1)

Copy down.

TRUE or FALSE?

If FALSE, format to General or Number then copy an empty cell and paste
specialaddokesc over your numbers.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP


On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:49:02 -0800, Bill
wrote:

Excel 2007

I have two columns of data. Column A is a text field and column B is a
number field. I want to sort the data, first by column A and then by column
B. When I use the Sort screen, the Order item for column A (text field) gives
the option A to Z or Z to A, which is correct. The Order item for column B
(numbers field) also gives the option A to Z or Z to A. This is incorrect. It
should give smallest to largest or largest to smallest.

I do have the option to go into the Custom List in the Order item and add
smallest to largest or larget to smallest. I have tried this but the sort in
colmn B does not come out correct.

Thinking the worksheet may be corupt, I copied columns A and B to another
worksheet and I am experiencing the same problem.

Any suggestions.

Thank you,

Bill













.

Cannot sort data
 

Was the copied cell really empty and was it formatted to General?

Might have a space in it.

Also your numbers could have a non-breaking space(html) which resists the
paste specialadd and TRIM and CLEAN

Select the numbers and EditReplace

What: Alt + 0160(on the numpad)

With: nothing

Replace all.


Gord





On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:57:01 -0800, Bill
wrote:


Gord:

I tired your suggestion as follows:

Test in adjacent cell if true or false
I got False
Formatted my number to Number
Copied an empty cell and paste special/add/okay


I then ran the True or False test again in an adjacent cell.

I got False again.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,

Bill








"Gord Dibben" wrote:

Are your number really numbers?

In an adjacent column enter =ISNUMBER(B1)

Copy down.

TRUE or FALSE?

If FALSE, format to General or Number then copy an empty cell and paste
specialaddokesc over your numbers.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP


On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:49:02 -0800, Bill
wrote:

Excel 2007

I have two columns of data. Column A is a text field and column B is a
number field. I want to sort the data, first by column A and then by column
B. When I use the Sort screen, the Order item for column A (text field) gives
the option A to Z or Z to A, which is correct. The Order item for column B
(numbers field) also gives the option A to Z or Z to A. This is incorrect. It
should give smallest to largest or largest to smallest.

I do have the option to go into the Custom List in the Order item and add
smallest to largest or larget to smallest. I have tried this but the sort in
colmn B does not come out correct.

Thinking the worksheet may be corupt, I copied columns A and B to another
worksheet and I am experiencing the same problem.

Any suggestions.

Thank you,

Bill













.

Cannot sort data
 

Gord:

It worked.

Thanks,

Bill



"Gord Dibben" wrote:

Was the copied cell really empty and was it formatted to General?

Might have a space in it.

Also your numbers could have a non-breaking space(html) which resists the
paste specialadd and TRIM and CLEAN

Select the numbers and EditReplace

What: Alt + 0160(on the numpad)

With: nothing

Replace all.


Gord





On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:57:01 -0800, Bill
wrote:


Gord:

I tired your suggestion as follows:

Test in adjacent cell if true or false
I got False
Formatted my number to Number
Copied an empty cell and paste special/add/okay


I then ran the True or False test again in an adjacent cell.

I got False again.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,

Bill








"Gord Dibben" wrote:

Are your number really numbers?

In an adjacent column enter =ISNUMBER(B1)

Copy down.

TRUE or FALSE?

If FALSE, format to General or Number then copy an empty cell and paste
specialaddokesc over your numbers.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP


On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:49:02 -0800, Bill
wrote:

Excel 2007

I have two columns of data. Column A is a text field and column B is a
number field. I want to sort the data, first by column A and then by column
B. When I use the Sort screen, the Order item for column A (text field) gives
the option A to Z or Z to A, which is correct. The Order item for column B
(numbers field) also gives the option A to Z or Z to A. This is incorrect. It
should give smallest to largest or largest to smallest.

I do have the option to go into the Custom List in the Order item and add
smallest to largest or larget to smallest. I have tried this but the sort in
colmn B does not come out correct.

Thinking the worksheet may be corupt, I copied columns A and B to another
worksheet and I am experiencing the same problem.

Any suggestions.

Thank you,

Bill













.


.

Cannot sort data
 

Good to hear.


Gord

On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:30:01 -0800, Bill
wrote:

Gord:

It worked.

Thanks,

Bill



"Gord Dibben" wrote:

Was the copied cell really empty and was it formatted to General?

Might have a space in it.

Also your numbers could have a non-breaking space(html) which resists the
paste specialadd and TRIM and CLEAN

Select the numbers and EditReplace

What: Alt + 0160(on the numpad)

With: nothing

Replace all.


Gord





On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:57:01 -0800, Bill
wrote:


Gord:

I tired your suggestion as follows:

Test in adjacent cell if true or false
I got False
Formatted my number to Number
Copied an empty cell and paste special/add/okay


I then ran the True or False test again in an adjacent cell.

I got False again.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks,

Bill








"Gord Dibben" wrote:

Are your number really numbers?

In an adjacent column enter =ISNUMBER(B1)

Copy down.

TRUE or FALSE?

If FALSE, format to General or Number then copy an empty cell and paste
specialaddokesc over your numbers.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP


On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:49:02 -0800, Bill
wrote:

Excel 2007

I have two columns of data. Column A is a text field and column B is a
number field. I want to sort the data, first by column A and then by column
B. When I use the Sort screen, the Order item for column A (text field) gives
the option A to Z or Z to A, which is correct. The Order item for column B
(numbers field) also gives the option A to Z or Z to A. This is incorrect. It
should give smallest to largest or largest to smallest.

I do have the option to go into the Custom List in the Order item and add
smallest to largest or larget to smallest. I have tried this but the sort in
colmn B does not come out correct.

Thinking the worksheet may be corupt, I copied columns A and B to another
worksheet and I am experiencing the same problem.

Any suggestions.

Thank you,

Bill













.


.

Cannot sort data
 

On Feb 12, 3:42*am, Gord Dibben <gorddibbATshawDOTca wrote:
Are your number really numbers?

In an adjacent column enter *=ISNUMBER(B1)

Copy down.

TRUE or FALSE?

If FALSE, format to General *or Number then copy an empty cell and paste
specialaddokesc over your numbers.

Gord Dibben *MS Excel MVP

On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:49:02 -0800, Bill
wrote:

Excel 2007

I have two columns of data. Column A is a text field and column B is a
number field. I want to sort the data, first by column A and then by column
B. When I use the Sort screen, the Order item for column A (text field) gives
the option A to Z or Z to A, which is correct. The Order item for column B
(numbers field) also gives the option A to Z or Z to A. This is incorrect. It
should give smallest to largest or largest to smallest.

I do have the option to go into the Custom List in the Order item and add
smallest to largest or larget to smallest. I have tried this but the sort in
colmn B does not come out correct.

Thinking the worksheet may be corupt, I copied columns A and B to another
worksheet and I am experiencing the same problem.

Any suggestions.

Thank you,

Bill

Thanks Gord,
It was quite helpful to me.

Gagan