say:
DEPT1 EMP1
DEPT1 EMP2
DEPT1 EMP3
DEPT2 EMP4
DEPT2 EMP5
DEPT3 EMP6
DEPT3 EMP7
....
....
....

if I want to group the rows by dept, do I have to select dept1 and group
them, and select dept2 and group... for every dept?

any better ideas?

Data | Filter | Autofilter
is probably the fastest way to simply look at rows with specific DEPT#
entries in them. If you've got some special need to do much more than that
with them, then we'd need a more detailed explanation of what you want to do
with this information.

"kang" wrote:

say:
DEPT1 EMP1
DEPT1 EMP2
DEPT1 EMP3
DEPT2 EMP4
DEPT2 EMP5
DEPT3 EMP6
DEPT3 EMP7
....
....
....

if I want to group the rows by dept, do I have to select dept1 and group
them, and select dept2 and group... for every dept?

any better ideas?

One way is the use of SUBTOTALs
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/sumdata.htm

Basics of using Subtotals
http://www.datapigtechnologies.com/ExcelMain.htm

If you just want to insert a blank row on Column A change
Insert Blank Rows on Column A change of value (#ColAchg)
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel...ow.htm#ColAchg
See top of that page if not familiar with macros, or go to...
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel....htm#havemacro
--
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"JLatham" <HelpFrom @ Jlathamsite.com.(removethis) wrote in message ...
Data | Filter | Autofilter
is probably the fastest way to simply look at rows with specific DEPT#
entries in them. If you've got some special need to do much more than that
with them, then we'd need a more detailed explanation of what you want to do
with this information.

"kang" wrote:

say:
DEPT1 EMP1
DEPT1 EMP2
DEPT1 EMP3
DEPT2 EMP4
DEPT2 EMP5
DEPT3 EMP6
DEPT3 EMP7
....
....
....

if I want to group the rows by dept, do I have to select dept1 and group
them, and select dept2 and group... for every dept?

any better ideas?

If your new posting here was a continuation of your earlier posting, ie:

conditional formatting by groups

"kang" wrote in message
...
I have some groups and I want each group to have different color(not
necessarily distinct).

then perhaps try this sample which illustrates one way
to apply CF in the manner desired:

http://savefile.com/files/259026
CF to color rows for identical successive col A values.xls

--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---
"kang" wrote:
say:
DEPT1 EMP1
DEPT1 EMP2
DEPT1 EMP3
DEPT2 EMP4
DEPT2 EMP5
DEPT3 EMP6
DEPT3 EMP7
....
....
....

if I want to group the rows by dept, do I have to select dept1 and group
them, and select dept2 and group... for every dept?

any better ideas?

Hi Max,
Your test data is inadequate, as far as I know you would need
to create a column to keep track of the changes (fluctuations).

If your test data had been
Tree, Tree, Rose, Rose, Star, Star, Horse
you would have noticed that only Horse had a different color.

For a Conditional Formatting solution see
Color Grouping with alternating colors (#grouping)
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel...t.htm#grouping
--
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"Max" wrote in message ...
If your new posting here was a continuation of your earlier posting, ie:

conditional formatting by groups

"kang" wrote in message
...
I have some groups and I want each group to have different color(not
necessarily distinct).

then perhaps try this sample which illustrates one way
to apply CF in the manner desired:

http://savefile.com/files/259026
CF to color rows for identical successive col A values.xls

--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---
"kang" wrote:
say:
DEPT1 EMP1
DEPT1 EMP2
DEPT1 EMP3
DEPT2 EMP4
DEPT2 EMP5
DEPT3 EMP6
DEPT3 EMP7
....
....
....

if I want to group the rows by dept, do I have to select dept1 and group
them, and select dept2 and group... for every dept?

any better ideas?

David,
You're right. Thanks for pointer.
--
Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
---