Custom Sorting

[A. Roger]

Hello,
I have an inventory sorted by ascending part numbers(smaller to largesr).
But i would like for the order to start with numbers that begin with a 0 then
with numbers that start 1 and so on, regardless if the number is smaller or
bigger.

Is this possible?

 

[Dave Peterson]

It sounds like you want the entry sorted like it was text.

I'd insert a new column and use a formula like:
=a1&""
to convert the number to text

Wait, I guess, you'd want to keep that same format:

So maybe something like:
=text(a1,"00000")
for 5 digit part numbers.

 

[FSt1]

hi
maybe. custom sorts are usually done with the use of a helper column. you
could add a column at beginning of the data or use the last column next to
your data.
in the column, enter the following formula....
=left(A2,1)
this will pull the first number from your inventory number.(accually if some
of your numbers start with zero, they are probably formated as text)
you can then sort your data using the helper column as the primary sort, and
maybe another column as a secondary sort.
or maybe you need the first 2 numbers of your inventory number
=left(a2,2)
look up the left function in xl help for more details.

regards
FSt1

 

[Otto Moehrbach]

Yes. You would need VBA (programming) for that. Basically, the VBA would
build an extra column with numbers that would subsequently be used to sort
by. One question, though. Say that you have a group of numbers that ALL
started with, say, 2. How would you want that group sorted? Not sorted
within the larger group of all numbers, just within that one group. HTH
Otto