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[SOLVED] Why won't data sort correctly in Excel

  1. #1
    moonfang
    Guest

    [SOLVED] Why won't data sort correctly in Excel

    i have a worksheet that i need to sort A-Z. I have sorted it in the past but
    now it will not sort. There are labels at the top of the worksheet but when
    i click Data-->sort, the window that comes up shows "column A" instead of
    "Name". Also the labels end up down in the worksheet as they are being
    sorted also. there are no empty rows or columns.

  2. #2
    Bill Martin -- (Remove NOSPAM from address)
    Guest

    Re: Why won't data sort correctly in Excel

    moonfang wrote:
    > i have a worksheet that i need to sort A-Z. I have sorted it in the past but
    > now it will not sort. There are labels at the top of the worksheet but when
    > i click Data-->sort, the window that comes up shows "column A" instead of
    > "Name". Also the labels end up down in the worksheet as they are being
    > sorted also. there are no empty rows or columns.


    ------------------

    It sounds like you did sort the headers as part of the data. You can
    manually cut/paste them back to the top.

    When you first open the sort control window, at the bottom are two
    buttons. "My list has header row", or "has no header row". You've
    apparently got the wrong one selected.

    Good luck....

    Bill

  3. #3
    moonfang
    Guest

    Re: Why won't data sort correctly in Excel



    "Bill Martin -- (Remove NOSPAM from addre" wrote:

    > moonfang wrote:
    > > i have a worksheet that i need to sort A-Z. I have sorted it in the past but
    > > now it will not sort. There are labels at the top of the worksheet but when
    > > i click Data-->sort, the window that comes up shows "column A" instead of
    > > "Name". Also the labels end up down in the worksheet as they are being
    > > sorted also. there are no empty rows or columns.

    >
    > ------------------
    >
    > It sounds like you did sort the headers as part of the data. You can
    > manually cut/paste them back to the top.
    >
    > When you first open the sort control window, at the bottom are two
    > buttons. "My list has header row", or "has no header row". You've
    > apparently got the wrong one selected.
    >
    > Good luck....
    >
    > Bill
    >

    Thanks, Bill. I have already tried that. I am still getting a part of
    another column at the top of the first column. I don't understand why that
    is happening. And why did it sort correctly forever and is now being
    stupid????

  4. #4
    Bill Martin -- (Remove NOSPAM from address)
    Guest

    Re: Why won't data sort correctly in Excel

    moonfang wrote:
    >
    > "Bill Martin -- (Remove NOSPAM from addre" wrote:
    >
    >
    >>moonfang wrote:
    >>
    >>>i have a worksheet that i need to sort A-Z. I have sorted it in the past but
    >>>now it will not sort. There are labels at the top of the worksheet but when
    >>>i click Data-->sort, the window that comes up shows "column A" instead of
    >>>"Name". Also the labels end up down in the worksheet as they are being
    >>>sorted also. there are no empty rows or columns.

    >>
    >>------------------
    >>
    >>It sounds like you did sort the headers as part of the data. You can
    >>manually cut/paste them back to the top.
    >>
    >>When you first open the sort control window, at the bottom are two
    >>buttons. "My list has header row", or "has no header row". You've
    >>apparently got the wrong one selected.
    >>
    >>Good luck....
    >>
    >>Bill
    >>

    >
    > Thanks, Bill. I have already tried that. I am still getting a part of
    > another column at the top of the first column. I don't understand why that
    > is happening. And why did it sort correctly forever and is now being
    > stupid????


    ----------------------

    Have you tried reading Excel's help system on the Sort command? It
    might point something out.

    At this point I can't really guess what you're doing wrong without
    looking over your shoulder. If you mark what you want sorted with the
    mouse, and you're convinced that exactly the right stuff is marked (no
    more and no less) then it will sort properly in my experience. And if
    you incorrectly sort once by marking the wrong check box, then Excel
    will try to be helpful and remember that way of sorting in future until
    you do it right again.

    On the other hand, if you've accidentally mis-sorted it once (as I have
    also done in the past) then you've got junk rows mixed in your data
    block and resorting it won't necessarily get rid of the junk. You've
    got to clean up the block first by some means.

    Good luck...

    Bill

  5. #5
    Ron Rosenfeld
    Guest

    Re: Why won't data sort correctly in Excel

    On Wed, 1 Jun 2005 06:58:07 -0700, "moonfang"
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >I am still getting a part of
    >another column at the top of the first column. I don't understand why that
    >is happening. And why did it sort correctly forever and is now being
    >stupid????


    Most likely because your data has changed.
    --ron

  6. #6
    cbrock
    Guest

    RE: Why won't data sort correctly in Excel

    I have had the same problem also. Know exactly what you are talking about.
    For some reason, Excel is not automatically recognizing the headings. I have
    not found a solution, but have found two ways to work around it.
    1. When creating the worksheet, I try to paste from one that works
    correctly. OR
    2. In my case, I have two heading rows, so I highlight the entire range I
    wish to sort including the header row I want to sort by. Then I go to sort.
    At the bottom I check "header row". It then recognizes the first row in my
    selection as the sorting criteria.


    "moonfang" wrote:

    > i have a worksheet that i need to sort A-Z. I have sorted it in the past but
    > now it will not sort. There are labels at the top of the worksheet but when
    > i click Data-->sort, the window that comes up shows "column A" instead of
    > "Name". Also the labels end up down in the worksheet as they are being
    > sorted also. there are no empty rows or columns.


  7. #7
    cbrock
    Guest

    RE: Why won't data sort correctly in Excel

    Did find MS Knowledge Base #135717 on the subject with the autoselect
    recognizing the headers. Has to do with format of alpha and numeric. Still no
    fix and their solution is the same as my work around previously posted.

    "moonfang" wrote:

    > i have a worksheet that i need to sort A-Z. I have sorted it in the past but
    > now it will not sort. There are labels at the top of the worksheet but when
    > i click Data-->sort, the window that comes up shows "column A" instead of
    > "Name". Also the labels end up down in the worksheet as they are being
    > sorted also. there are no empty rows or columns.


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