A-Z, Z-A, buttons

  • Thread starter Thread starter tghcogo
  • Start date Start date
T

tghcogo

The A-Z, Z-A buttons are a very useful feature, that I use to sor
columns within blocks of data without having to go through the dat
sort menu.

I have a large block of data, with no gaps, which I have used for ove
5 years, so it's well tried and tested.

Now for some reason when I use the A-Z buttons it won't include the to
three rows in the sort.

This has happened a couple of times before with just the top row and m
solution has been to delete it completely and insert it lower dow
within the block.

What is the cause of this problem.

I'm sure there is a simple solution.

Thanks in advance

TGHCOG
 
hi ....................................,
You probably have an empty row 2 or 3. If you have a single
cell select the Excel defaults to the current region in the used range
stopping at empty rows and empty columns. [Ctrl+*]

When you use the arrows you do not have control over whether
you have headers or not. I may help Excel see that you have
headers you the formats differ between that row and the others.

The only way that I would suggest using the sort arrows is to select
a cell in the column you want sorted then use Ctrl+A, then your
sort icon of choice. Otherwise you will sort only on the current region
if you have only one cell selected.
[in Excel 2003 you have to hit Ctrl+A twice to select ALL cells]
 
Hi Dave

Thanks for the advice and the links, very useful.

I have tried every which way to fix it to no avail, but I have found
solution.

When I first set up the table many moons ago, I could select any cel
in a column click in the A-Z button and it worked fine providing I lef
a blank line between the headings, which are in bold type, and th
data.

At some stage over the years, (not sure when), I was able to eliminat
the blank row and it still worked by selecting any cell in a column
and the heading would stay where it was and not become mixed up in th
data.

I should add that the real headings form the bottom row of freeze pan
so are always on view when I scroll through the data.

Whatever I try now it always (and very stubbornly) assumes the firs
row of data is the heading, even if I insert a blank row between th
real headings and the data.

To get it to work accurately, I now don't have a blank row between th
heading and the data, and providing I select the cell with the heading
it sorts the data correctly and leaves the heading where it should be.
This is slightly less convenient than before but it is still quicke
than selecting the region and going through the data sort dialogu
method.

It is obviously something to do with the way excell automaticall
determines (or not) the presence of headings.
It's baffling, but in the grand scheme of things, not something to los
sleep over.

Once again ythanks for the advice.

TGHCOG
 
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