Sorting in a Spreadsheet with Filter

[Lackey]

I have a spreadsheet for work orders. The columns are WO#, Date, Planner,
Vendor, Bldg, Room, Equip#, Date Entered, PO#. Each Planner uses the
automatic filter to see the line items that belong to them. They then would
like to be able to sort by vendor alphabetically. This is the part that's not
working. It seems to be mixing up the lines. Can someone please help?
Thanks.

 

[Ron Coderre]

Not sure what you mean by "mixing up the lines".
Is only the Vendor column sorting and the other
columns retain their positions so they don't match
the Vendors?

That would indicate that ONLY the vendor column is
being selected for the sort. In that case, Excel would
display a pop-up asking if they want to expand the
sort range to include the rest of the data
.....which they should allow.

Does that help?
Or do you have a different problem?
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron
Microsoft MVP (Excel)
(XL2003, Win XP)

 

[Lackey]

That is the problem. What you write makes sense. I'm just wondering why you
can choose the planner from the drop down filter arrow and when you choose
sort descending using the same arrow in the planner column, it doesn't work.
I actually found that highlighting all the rows and doing a Data/Sort works.
I'm just trying to make this as easy as possible. Any other suggestions?

 

[Ron Coderre]

OK...I think I know what's happening...

When the AutoFilter is engaged...it's ONLY on the Vendor column, right?
If that's true, you're indicating to Excel that the other columns are NOT
associated with the Vendor column.

To fix that
.....Select all of the data list
.....THEN engage the AutoFilter.
(You'll see drop-down arrows on each column heading)

Then...when you sort, the row data will move as a unit.

Does that help?
--------------------------

Regards,

Ron
Microsoft MVP (Excel)
(XL2003, Win XP)

 

[Ron Coderre]

Nah...that's not it. Excel always prompts me to expand the selection
or it just includes the contiguous columns of data anyway.

I think you'll need to describe the filtering/sorting process
in a little more detail for me.

Regards,

Ron
Microsoft MVP (Excel)
(XL2003, Win XP)

 

[Lackey]

The AutoFilter only works once. If you use it to sort by just the planner,
that works. If you choose to sort by the planner, then the vendor, it doesn't
work. The only way it works is if you highlight all the rows and to the
Data/Sort.
Thanks for your help!