Filters and their use

[PhilD]

When you have a big table of data and wish to filter it for certain
items, you apply the auto filter. This puts up some arrow buttons,
which when clicked allow you to specify the filter terms.

Also available is "show all" and "top 10". My query is about "top 10".

By my understanding, this should give the 10 most common items in that
column. I have never, ever got anything to work, whether on Mac or PC,
with this item. What should I do to show the top 10 items?

On my Mac, clicking the "top 10" item just makes the menu disappear and
nothing happens. On PC, a selection box appears, that just disappears
when clicking "OK", and nothing else happens.

Help please!

iBook G4, OS 10.4.2, Office 2004 with all updates.

PhilD

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

When you have a big table of data and wish to filter it for certain
items, you apply the auto filter. This puts up some arrow buttons,
which when clicked allow you to specify the filter terms.

Also available is "show all" and "top 10". My query is about "top 10".

By my understanding, this should give the 10 most common items in that
column. I have never, ever got anything to work, whether on Mac or PC,
with this item. What should I do to show the top 10 items?

On my Mac, clicking the "top 10" item just makes the menu disappear and
nothing happens. On PC, a selection box appears, that just disappears
when clicking "OK", and nothing else happens.

Help please!

iBook G4, OS 10.4.2, Office 2004 with all updates.

PhilD

Top 10 means the ten largest numbers, not the 10 most frequent items. Check
the Help file. Top 10 has no meaning when the filtered column contains text
and no values.

 

[PhilD]

Top 10 means the ten largest numbers, not the 10 most frequent items. Check
the Help file. Top 10 has no meaning when the filtered column contains text
and no values.

D'oh! As if by magic, it all becomes clear. If you try to use a tool
designed for A and you try to do B, it won't "work", will it?

Thanks for clarifying. Another weapon to store in the armoury for
whenever I need it.

PhilD