i have a spreadsheet with 4 columns and multiple rows. the columns are point
number,reading,date and time. how do i set up the columns so i can sort the
data according to date, time, etc. while keeping the right reading with the
right date etc?

You could start by typing SORT into the help index

--
Don Guillett
Microsoft MVP Excel
SalesAid Software

"robo" wrote in message
...
i have a spreadsheet with 4 columns and multiple rows. the columns are
point
number,reading,date and time. how do i set up the columns so i can sort
the
data according to date, time, etc. while keeping the right reading with
the
right date etc?

In order to keep the row together you must select all cells on the
row, so you would normally select all rows and all columns. There
are three ways of doing this.
1) use the gray button at left of column headers (A-B-C)
the problem is that it selects the active cell as the cell in the
upper left corner.
2) use Ctrl+A to select ALL cells, this method leaves the currently
active cell as the active cell, which is ideal.
The problem is that with Excel 2003, you must use Ctrl+A twice
and in Excel 2007 (ribbons instead of menus) you must use Ctrl+A three times
and in the next Excel after that, you can expect things to get worse.
3) You can use a menu, I have Excel 2007 so can't tell you which one.

Excel only allows you to sort three columns at a time, so if you wish
to sort 4 you must first sort on the most minor column then sort
on the three major columns starting from the data menu.

More information on Sorting is in
Sorting, Some notes on sorting in Excel
Location: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/sorting.htm
and includes how you can actually use the ascending/descending
toolbar keys if you you select all cells and keep the active cell
in the column you want to sort on.

--
HTH,
David McRitchie
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm

"robo" wrote...
I have a spreadsheet with 4 columns and multiple rows. the columns are point
number,reading,date and time. how do i set up the columns so I can sort the
data according to date, time, etc. while keeping the right reading with the
right date etc?