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#1
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Very Basic SORT question
Hello,
I'm using Excel 2002 but I think this question would apply to all versions. I am working with 30k names and addresses. I need to sort by different columns at different times. What can I do to prevent myself from accidentally only sorting the one column and not all the columns? For example, if I want to sort by first name I want to make sure all the the row info remains intact. I don't want to accidently Change John Doe to Carl Doe because the only column sorted was the first name. Is there one step or setting I can implement or am I stuck being very careful that I select all columns each and every time. Thank you in advance for any help. J |
#2
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.worksheet.functions
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Very Basic SORT question
Do not use the Sort Ascending or Sort Descending icons - these cause
nothing but trouble. You should highlight your data, then click on Data | Sort and then specify which column(s) you want to sort by. You can also indicate the order, and whether you have headers at the top of your data. So, select the data first, then do the sort. Hope this helps. Pete On Jun 29, 6:14*pm, Jarbacky wrote: Hello, I'm using Excel 2002 but I think this question would apply to all versions. I am working with 30k names and addresses. I need to sort by different columns at different times. What can I do to prevent myself from accidentally only sorting the one column and not all the columns? For example, if I want to sort by first name I want to make sure all the the row info remains intact. I don't want to accidently Change John Doe to Carl Doe because the only column sorted was the first name. Is there one step or setting I can implement or am I stuck being very careful that I select all columns each and every time. Thank you in advance for any help. J |
#3
Posted to microsoft.public.excel.worksheet.functions
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Very Basic SORT question
Do not use the Sort Ascending or Sort Descending icons - these cause
nothing but trouble. Why do they cause trouble? They do the same thing, as long as only a one-level Sort is needed. (actually, you can do multi-level if you are careful) As you both hinted, user error is the real problem either way. Jarbacky, Select your database (probably easiest to select entire columns if there is nothing below the database), then give it a Name. Then you can pick it from the little Name menu on the left of the Formula Bar. Easy way to select it each time before you have to sort. |
#4
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Very Basic SORT question
Excel doesn't always correctly guess at the range to be sorted--or if the range
has headers. Spiky wrote: Do not use the Sort Ascending or Sort Descending icons - these cause nothing but trouble. Why do they cause trouble? They do the same thing, as long as only a one-level Sort is needed. (actually, you can do multi-level if you are careful) As you both hinted, user error is the real problem either way. Jarbacky, Select your database (probably easiest to select entire columns if there is nothing below the database), then give it a Name. Then you can pick it from the little Name menu on the left of the Formula Bar. Easy way to select it each time before you have to sort. -- Dave Peterson |
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