Unable to sort "words" that are numbers and letters

[TG]

For example:

Lets say I have (all numbers and the % has been typed in manually and the
format is general)

12%
54%
34%
100%

If i hightlight this numbers (each in their own cell) and say I want to sort
them from largest to smallest, it gives the following output:

54%
34%
12%
100%

why doesnt the 100% show up first? it seems as if it is only reading the
first 2 digits when I input a combination of numbers and letters. The sorting
will work fine if they are just numbers.

any one has any idea of how I may fix this? keep in mind that I do need the
% after the number and sometimes even more words in the same cell.

thanks

 

[Shane Devenshire]

Hi,

well the entries aren't numbers, they are text. So what you really should
do is set the range to General BEFORE you enter the values and then just
enter them as 53% or whatever. Then sort.

 

[TG]

Hello Shane,

I tried what you suggested but it did not work, it still cannot sort
propertly.
any more ideas?

thanks,
TG

 

[Dave Peterson]

Do these cells contain formulas? If yes, what are those formulas?

If not, I'd try Shane's suggestion once more. It worked for me.

Remember it's a multiple step process--format the range as General and retype
each entry.

 

[TG]

Hello Dave,

thanks for your reply.

the problem is still there, maybe i didnt make myself clear.
what I want to do is type in 10% 15% or even "100% of all cost" (all of them
in each cell), when i try to sort this it does not sort propertly even after
what you and shane suggested. however,it does work when I only use the
percent sign and no other words after the percent sign (i.e 10%, 34% 100%)
but when i input 12%, 10% and "100% of all cost" and sort it from largest to
smallest it sorts it as follows:

12% 10% "100% of all cost" and not "100% of all cost" 12% 10%

I hope this time i am a little more clear,

thanks
TG

 

[Dave Peterson]

If you mix numbers with text, you'll be left with the way that excel sorts text
and numbers.

1000% of cost
10% of cost
1% of cost

would be grouped together--since each is text--not a number.

I'd put the real number in one column and any notes in another.