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Erin
 
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Default sorting numbers more than one decimal

I have pasted an example of the numbers below. Why does the sorting start
over at the bottom of the list? I want the last number on the list
87200.028.1 to appear after the fourth number 87200.028 and then 87200.029
would be after 87200.028.1

I realize that this is directly related to the faxt that the first numbers
have one decimal and the ones at the bottom of the list have two decimals.
What can I do about it?

87200.022
87200.023
87200.027
87200.028
87200.029
87200.031
87200.031
87200.032
87200.032
87200.033
87200.034
87200.035
87200.035
87200.036
87200.037
85600.403.1
86100.708.1
86500.403.2
87200.028.1

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Dave Peterson
 
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I'd use an extra column and convert all the numbers to text (and no change to
the text values).

If your data is A1:Axx, then insert a new column B and
=a1&""
drag down

And sort your range based on column B.

Erin wrote:

I have pasted an example of the numbers below. Why does the sorting start
over at the bottom of the list? I want the last number on the list
87200.028.1 to appear after the fourth number 87200.028 and then 87200.029
would be after 87200.028.1

I realize that this is directly related to the faxt that the first numbers
have one decimal and the ones at the bottom of the list have two decimals.
What can I do about it?

87200.022
87200.023
87200.027
87200.028
87200.029
87200.031
87200.031
87200.032
87200.032
87200.033
87200.034
87200.035
87200.035
87200.036
87200.037
85600.403.1
86100.708.1
86500.403.2
87200.028.1


--

Dave Peterson
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Myrna Larson
 
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It starts over because the values with a single decimal point are stored as
numbers; those with 2 decimal points are stored as text. Excel sorts numbers
before text. You have to conver all of the "numbers" to text.

On Tue, 8 Mar 2005 12:55:06 -0800, "Erin"
wrote:

I have pasted an example of the numbers below. Why does the sorting start
over at the bottom of the list? I want the last number on the list
87200.028.1 to appear after the fourth number 87200.028 and then 87200.029
would be after 87200.028.1

I realize that this is directly related to the faxt that the first numbers
have one decimal and the ones at the bottom of the list have two decimals.
What can I do about it?

87200.022
87200.023
87200.027
87200.028
87200.029
87200.031
87200.031
87200.032
87200.032
87200.033
87200.034
87200.035
87200.035
87200.036
87200.037
85600.403.1
86100.708.1
86500.403.2
87200.028.1


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Erin
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Daves example worked perfectly!
Myrna, Thank you for the information that does explain WHY.
However, simply formatting the cells as text and sorting didn't work. I had
tried that before posting. It does make me curious as to why formatting as
text didn't get the desired results.
But, anyhow Thank You! Everyone

"Erin" wrote:

I have pasted an example of the numbers below. Why does the sorting start
over at the bottom of the list? I want the last number on the list
87200.028.1 to appear after the fourth number 87200.028 and then 87200.029
would be after 87200.028.1

I realize that this is directly related to the faxt that the first numbers
have one decimal and the ones at the bottom of the list have two decimals.
What can I do about it?

87200.022
87200.023
87200.027
87200.028
87200.029
87200.031
87200.031
87200.032
87200.032
87200.033
87200.034
87200.035
87200.035
87200.036
87200.037
85600.403.1
86100.708.1
86500.403.2
87200.028.1

  #5   Report Post  
Dave Peterson
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Formatting a cell that contains a number doesn't change the value from number to
text.

But if you make a change (simply hitting F2|Enter is enough) will change it,
though.

If you put =isnumber(a1)
with 123 in a1, you can fiddle with the format and see when/if it changes.

Erin wrote:

Daves example worked perfectly!
Myrna, Thank you for the information that does explain WHY.
However, simply formatting the cells as text and sorting didn't work. I had
tried that before posting. It does make me curious as to why formatting as
text didn't get the desired results.
But, anyhow Thank You! Everyone

"Erin" wrote:

I have pasted an example of the numbers below. Why does the sorting start
over at the bottom of the list? I want the last number on the list
87200.028.1 to appear after the fourth number 87200.028 and then 87200.029
would be after 87200.028.1

I realize that this is directly related to the faxt that the first numbers
have one decimal and the ones at the bottom of the list have two decimals.
What can I do about it?

87200.022
87200.023
87200.027
87200.028
87200.029
87200.031
87200.031
87200.032
87200.032
87200.033
87200.034
87200.035
87200.035
87200.036
87200.037
85600.403.1
86100.708.1
86500.403.2
87200.028.1


--

Dave Peterson
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