Bear in mind, I am new to excel. Say I have a column with the
following entries:

2
1
2-a
3

When I use the "sort ascending" button on this column it comes up:

1
2
3
2-a

What I would like is the following:
1
2
2-a
3

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Peter

Hi Peter,
You would have to make sure that Excel knows that each
cell is text. Excel sorts numeric cells before text cells.
Format the column as text, and then reenter each cell
with F2 then Enter; or use a macro to effect the reentry.
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/join.htm#reenter
one of the macros there should help, probably the first one
under that topic.
---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm

"peter" wrote in message oups.com...
Bear in mind, I am new to excel. Say I have a column with the
following entries:

2
1
2-a
3

When I use the "sort ascending" button on this column it comes up:

1
2
3
2-a

What I would like is the following:
1
2
2-a
3

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Peter

Thank you, David!

OK, that worked for my example. In my actual spreadsheet, I am copying
data from one sheet to the next where I sort it. I wasn't able to get
it to work when I copied and pasted data. Do I format the original
sheet as text and the sheet on which it is sorted? Maybe I didn't try
hard enough, but I'm wondering if you have a quick answer.

Hi Peter,
Since those are probably constants, that actually
would simplify that if that is all there is to it.

Format the output area as text, and copy the
input area, the paste as values (edit, paste special, values)

My Excel is 2000, just in case that doesn't work for you.
---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]


"peter" wrote in message oups.com...
OK, that worked for my example. In my actual spreadsheet, I am copying
data from one sheet to the next where I sort it. I wasn't able to get
it to work when I copied and pasted data. Do I format the original
sheet as text and the sheet on which it is sorted? Maybe I didn't try
hard enough, but I'm wondering if you have a quick answer.

Ok I think I got it this time. Thanks!