Sorting Correctly

[Andrea]

I'm trying to sort a column of names alphabetically (column A), but I want
the data in the other columns to move along with the names. When I try to
sort the column, I get a message asking me if I want to extend the
selection. However, when I click yes, only some of the columns are selected
and the rest don't move along with Column A. How can I fix this? (I don't
know if this matters, but when I started this worksheet, columns appeared
from previous worksheets for some reason. I hid them, so although I only
have 19 columns, they range from A to AG. Thinking this may be the problem,
I tried to unhide them, but they don't reappear.) TIA.

 

[Andrea]

Let me just clarify that post: I figured out how to unhide the columns, but
the part that gets highlighted for sorting still ends just before the first
column that had been hidden.

 

[Ken Wright]

So just select the entire range before trying to sort. Whatever you want to
sort must be selected before you sort.

 

[Andrea]

I already retyped all the information, so I'll have to wait until I have
another worksheet to try that. It seems to me that I did and it still
wouldn't sort, but I'm not sure anymore. I have a new problem with this
spreadsheet and will start a new thread!

 

[Earl Kiosterud]

Andrea,

You have to be careful with Excel sorts. Selection is crucial. I think
I'll blurt that out again. Selection is crucial. You can select one cell,
and let it "expand the selection," but your data must be pretty much
touching, and there should be no other stuff next to the table, or it will
get selected too. Or, select the entire range yourself. Option two is
safest. Then use Data, Sort.