Sorting in Excel 2002

[Erin Ennis]

I run XL 2002 on Windows XP.

I have a spreadsheet has a combination of text and digits. Bottom line of
the table sums the digits, but when I try to sort components of the table,
the line with the totals gets sorted like a regular line of text. A row
generally has 5-6 cells of text and 10 cells of digits.

I'd like to be able to sort alphabetically by any of the text cells, but
keep the sum at the bottom of the table.

I'm certain this is a newbie problem with an easy solution. Can someone
help?

 

[Judi]

You do not need to include your bottom (sum) line in the sort. You must sort all columns to keep them together but you do not need to sort the title or the sum line. Hope this helps..

 

[Erin Ennis]

It helps a little -- what you are suggesting is that I select the rows that
I want to sort, but leave out the title and the sum line? I had just been
clicking on a cell in the table, then choosing sort. It recognized the
header, but not the sum line.

You do not need to include your bottom (sum) line in the sort. You must

sort all columns to keep them together but you do not need to sort the title
or the sum line. Hope this helps..

 

[RagDyer]

Always, always, always, always ... select the cells to be sorted *before*
you click <Data> <Sort>.
Never, never, never, never ... allow XL to select the range for you - and
*don't* use the sort icons on the tool bar.

That's the only way you'll be sure your sort includes the entire range that
you intend.
--

HTH,

RD
==============================================
Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
==============================================

It helps a little -- what you are suggesting is that I select the rows that
I want to sort, but leave out the title and the sum line? I had just been
clicking on a cell in the table, then choosing sort. It recognized the
header, but not the sum line.

You do not need to include your bottom (sum) line in the sort. You must

sort all columns to keep them together but you do not need to sort the title
or the sum line. Hope this helps..

 

[LEB]

You could put one or more empty rows between the last row
of your data and the totals row. That would keep Excel
from selecting the totals row in your sort.

Another idea I use is is to put my totals row at the top
of the spreadsheet, so I don't have to scroll down to
view them. Again, you could insert a blank row or two
between the totals and the data, to keep Excel from
including the totals row.

Finally, if your data always occupies the saem number of
rows and columns, you could give the data area a range
name, like Data. Then, you could use Edit...Goto to
select the data range, and then invoke the sort function.