Merge Cells question

[ken]

It says I can't sort because of merged cells. Can someone please show me
what that looks like? I can't see the merged cells. Thanks.


OS 10.4.11
Office 2004

 

[Carl Witthoft]

It says I can't sort because of merged cells. Can someone please show me
what that looks like? I can't see the merged cells. Thanks.


OS 10.4.11
Office 2004

Merged cells are easier to see if you have ShowGridlines selected. Then
you'll see a lack of gridlines on the (nonexistent) borders between
merged cells. Or, just select the entire area you want to sort, then
select Format/Cells/Alignment and unclick the Merge Cells box.


And, yeah it is a crime against humanity to use merged cells. Ever.
Other than fancy formatting I can't see any functional use for merged
cells, and spreadsheets should be about handling data, not making pretty
pictures.

 

[ken]

Merged cells are easier to see if you have ShowGridlines selected. Then
you'll see a lack of gridlines on the (nonexistent) borders between
merged cells. Or, just select the entire area you want to sort, then
select Format/Cells/Alignment and unclick the Merge Cells box.


And, yeah it is a crime against humanity to use merged cells. Ever.
Other than fancy formatting I can't see any functional use for merged
cells, and spreadsheets should be about handling data, not making pretty
pictures.

Thanks Carl.
This is happening because some intern entered the information, what he did
to achieve this I have no idea.

Neither of your tricks worked for me.
Show gridlines. You mean in the page set up? I always have that checked. I
don't see any non existent borders. Everything looks beautiful. That is the
problem, I can't find these merged cells.
Trick #2, I selected everything, did the Format/Cells/Alignment and
unclicked the Merge Cells box. No effect. File looks same.


OS 10.4.11
Office 2004

 

[Carl Witthoft]

Thanks Carl.
This is happening because some intern entered the information, what he did
to achieve this I have no idea.

Neither of your tricks worked for me.
Show gridlines. You mean in the page set up? I always have that checked. I
don't see any non existent borders. Everything looks beautiful. That is the
problem, I can't find these merged cells.
Trick #2, I selected everything, did the Format/Cells/Alignment and
unclicked the Merge Cells box. No effect. File looks same.



OS 10.4.11
Office 2004

Just for kicks , do a Save As, then try Trick2 again -- see if the
MergeCells box has a check or greyed check in it, and in either case
click until it's empty.

Also just to be absolutely sure: select the cells of interest and make
sure there's no Borders drawn, so all you see is the gridlines.

If after those two tries, you still can't sort, try selecting half the
region and sorting, then try the other half. -- continue this binary
search until you find the offending cells. They could possibly be
corrupt, indicating 'merged' even tho' they aren't.

Carl