Disable column only sorting in Excel

[JimG]

We get Excel files from others where a novice user has highlighted a whole
column and sorted it not knowing that it does not also sort the other
columns. (exp. sort a date of birth column as described and the correct
date of birth is no longer associated with the person's name). Is there a
way to disable this type of column sort or create a pop-up warning? I
cannot think of a reason this type of sort function is even in Excel. It
can create serious data problems.

 

[Dave Peterson]

I think it's a training issue.

The good news is that newer versions (xl2002+, I think) will give you that
warning that you want.

 

[JimG]

Thanks for your reply Dave. But:

1. I do train my personnel but I have no control over my clients personnel
who think excel is a database and send us lots of datafiles in excel format.

2. In Excel 2007 there is a popup but not a clear specific warning. The
popup says "Microsoft Office Excel found data next to your selections. Since
you have not selected this data, it will not be sorted. What do you want to
do? Expand the selection or Continue with the current selection." A
novice user will often select "Continue".

What I want to do is to disable sorting a single column without sorting the
other columns. I have had clients accuse us of sending bad data when one
of their personnel did the type of sort described above.

We are going to start send a disclaimer with all Excel files and suggest
they use Access for a database not Excel.

Jim

 

[Dave Peterson]

#2 sounds like a pretty specific warning to me. I'm not sure I could come up
with better words than MS did.

And if you're using xl2007, can't you make your data a table. (I don't use
xl2007 very often, but won't that make it so that you can't mess up that table.)

 

[JimG]

It is to me also but not to some of my clients who have older versions and
novice users. I think we are going to include a warning/disclaimer page or
popup with our outbound data spreadsheets. Thanks for your help.

If you have Word / Access expertise, please take a look at my other post
this am listed under "Word" - "Mailmerge" titled "How do you connect Word
2003 to Access 2007 accdb database"

Jim