Sorting problems

[Julia Kenworthy]

Hi,

I have a spreadsheet which I updat on a regular basis.
There are only two columns in this spreadsheet, column A
is a list of numbers that are formatted as text and Column
B is text. Up until recently I would input new data and
then select and sort with no problems. The spreadsheet
now sorts as below:-

300405
300406
300407
900801
0007
0008
0022
0085
0096
300402
300409
300410
900803
Anything new that I input only sorts in the lower half of
the speadsheet (0007-onwards). I've tried changing the
format from text to number. But the same thing happens. I
am using Office97.

Thanks in advance for any help

Julia

 

[Anon]

Hi,

I have a spreadsheet which I updat on a regular basis.
There are only two columns in this spreadsheet, column A
is a list of numbers that are formatted as text and Column
B is text. Up until recently I would input new data and
then select and sort with no problems. The spreadsheet
now sorts as below:-

300405
300406
300407
900801
0007
0008
0022
0085
0096
300402
300409
300410
900803
Anything new that I input only sorts in the lower half of
the speadsheet (0007-onwards). I've tried changing the
format from text to number. But the same thing happens. I
am using Office97.

Thanks in advance for any help

Julia

It may be something to do with the first few entries having been entered as
numbers and then formatted as text, rather than entered into cells that were
already formatted as text. I don't clearly understand what's behind this (I
wish I did!) but I have noticed this behaviour myself.

As there are not many cells involved in the 'first part' of your list
(six?), I suggest you select each in turn, each time putting the cursor at
the end of the formula bar and hitting ENTER. You may then find that the
whole list sorts as you expect.

Post back and let us know how you get on.

 

[CLR]

It appears that some of your "numbers" are numbers (even tho they may be
left-justified), and some are actually text.......I copied your string over
to Excel as text and the whole thing sorted fine......first I formated a
blank column as text then did Copy > Paste Special > Values.........

Vaya con Dios,
Chuck, CABGx3