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Thread ID: 40719 2003-12-15 21:42:00 Excel sort order problem ecurb (3669) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
200907 2003-12-15 21:42:00 Hi

I am trying to sort a column of figures

2
4
3
5
7
9
1
4A
6
4B
8

I can't get my list sorted in descending order so that 4A and 4B appear between 4 and 5. I have tried all the things in excel help but nothing works. I'm sure it must be easy to an expert. Any experts out there?

Thanks, Bruce
ecurb (3669)
200908 2003-12-15 22:14:00 When you sort out that list just move 4a and 4b manually or give everything a's like 1a, 2a, 3a...... Codex (3761)
200909 2003-12-15 22:32:00 Hi Bruce. Your problem is that you have to make all of the cells that contain numbers, text format. You do this by right clicking the cells, selecting format cells and then choosing text from the categories list. You should then be able to sort the numbers in the order you want. Also, make sure that they cells are formatted as text cells BEFORE you put the data in them otherwise it will not work.
Hope that helps you and have a Merry Christmas.

B.
Barnabas (4562)
200910 2003-12-16 00:37:00 Converting all the numbers to text will not work if you have any numbers greater than 9 - as '1 will be followed by '10, '11 ,'12 etc and not '2.
It is easier to manually convert 4A to the number 4.1 and 4B to 4.2 etc then sort.

HTH
Russell D (18)
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