sorting by date

[Brian]

Is there a reason that I cannot sort a column by date? I
have formated the cell with one of the standard date
format selections but I cannot sort my spreadsheet with
this column? Thanks for your assistance.

 

[JulieD]

Hi Brian

first check that they're actual dates (right mouse click on a cell - format
/ cells, on the numbers tab choose General - you should see a number like
38260 (sept 30, 2004) ... if they're numbers like this then they're dates
and there should be no problem sorting them.

BTW are you using Data / Sort to sort them or the sort icons ... it's always
best to use Data / Sort

Also what happens when you try sorting them - do the rows just stay the same
or does something else happen (to test this, please sort both ascending &
descending)

Let us know how you get on

Cheers
JulieD

 

[Brian]

I checked format as suggested. The numbers do not appear
as stated. Therefore as per your comment they're not "real
dates". Wow would you suggest that I set up a "real date".
I tried to do this in format/cells/numbers/&dates. Thanks
again.

 

[JulieD]

Hi Brian

do you need to "enter" a date or do you want to convert your "dates" to
"real dates"

if you want to enter a date
simply click in a cell and type the date separated by either / or - e.g.
30/9/04 (if you're in my part of the world)
then press enter
now check out the cell format ... this is where you can change
the display of the entry to whatever you want using a combination of d dd
ddd dddd m mm mmm mmmm yy yyyy - under "CUSTOM" or choose one of the
existing date formats

if you want to convert your "dates" to "real dates"
assuming your dates start at A2
type in B2
=DATEVALUE(A2)

and fill down (double click on bottom right hand side of cell B2 after
pressing enter)
now select column B, choose copy .. . edit / paste special - values and now
you
now you can copy these "dates" over the ones in column A but first we need
to change the format of A -
click on a blank cell anywhere on the sheet (generally somewhere you haven't
played with the format) and choose copy
now select column A and choose edit / paste special & add
then you can copy column B over A (or just delete A)

and then try sorting.

Let me know how you go

Cheers
JulieD