Sorting Multiple Columns

  • Thread starter Thread starter Marcelluss
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Marcelluss

We have a phone list that I think needs some improvement. The perso
that maintains the company phone list and sends it via email is no
very proficient in excel. This leads to many lists that need to b
resent to everybody twice or three times every month because of errors


Here is the way the phone list is set up and all the users have Exce
2002. A4:A64 has the employees first name, B has the last name, C ha
the dept., D has the ext. then, there is a divider in the page and th
same format is used starting at G4:G64 with the next first name in th
group. We have some of our company logos in A66:J69, then the lis
continues with the first names in the same format at A72:A99 an
G72:G99.

My question is: is there anyway to highlight just the cells that hav
the data is sorted and not the other company logos and various things.
I don't want her to cut and paste all the names because it is gettin
screwed up. If someone needs to be added, then you just add the nam
to the bottom and sort it by first name then BAM, you're done.

I don't know how to do this, maybe create a Excel database? I hope thi
explains it, please help.

Jame
 
James,

You have what's essentially two separate tables to sort; they can't directly
be sorted as one. You'll have to sort them separately, and there may be
overlap -- each sort doesn't know about the other.

One way to solve this is to create one list (I'll call the sheet "Table").
Make it like the original, but paste the second section, without headings,
directly under the other -- one long list of names and the other stuff. Now
for printing, use another sheet ("Printout") with the layout you described
with the two sections, using links, like = Table!A65, Table!A66, etc (the
fill handle will take care of them).

You'll update sheet Table. You won't be able to do anything that moves cells
(drag by cell border, Insert or delete) -- that will mess up the links. If
that's necessary, this gets a bit more involved. The sheet Printout should
automatically update accordingly. You should probably protect sheet
Printout, or users may try to make changes to it.
 
I sure agree with Earl.
It sounds like you are trying to make a sloppy initial data layout do things
it can't. The secret to Excel versatility is to plan your initial data
layout for processing before anything else.

If you have multiple columns in a table to sort then start with a single
table of data not "subtables" of data. As Earl says, first make one table,
sort it as you desire, then use whatever parts of it for display in whatever
form you desire. I too recommend using sheet/cell protection so others in
your company can't cobble up your original data set.

Good luck.

WDA

end
 
Hi James.

keeping it simple is tricky!

Having a logo in the middle of the data does not help and you woul
need a macro to do what you want.

Alternatively:

As it is laid out there are four blocks of data, if these are i
alphabetical order then you can add the new name to the bottom of th
"appropriate" data block and use data sort for that block only.
Deleting a name is more problematical, you cannot delete a row, tha
would delete two names, the simplest solution would be to delete th
data in the individual cells for that person, and move the rest of th
data below it up one row, to fill the gap left.

The easiest way to do that is to highlight the data and align the mous
pointer on the border, left click, hold down and drag the range up t
close the gap.

Hope this helps


TGHCOG
 
James,

I didn't notice, as tghcogo did, that you have four sections, not two. But
the same idea applies.

--
Earl Kiosterud
mvpearl omitthisword at verizon period net
-------------------------------------------

Earl Kiosterud said:
James,

You have what's essentially two separate tables to sort; they can't directly
be sorted as one. You'll have to sort them separately, and there may be
overlap -- each sort doesn't know about the other.

One way to solve this is to create one list (I'll call the sheet "Table").
Make it like the original, but paste the second section, without headings,
directly under the other -- one long list of names and the other stuff. Now
for printing, use another sheet ("Printout") with the layout you described
with the two sections, using links, like = Table!A65, Table!A66, etc (the
fill handle will take care of them).

You'll update sheet Table. You won't be able to do anything that moves cells
(drag by cell border, Insert or delete) -- that will mess up the links. If
that's necessary, this gets a bit more involved. The sheet Printout should
automatically update accordingly. You should probably protect sheet
Printout, or users may try to make changes to it.
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, I was leaning towards this not being simple or possible. Thank
for the ideas Earl and tghcogo, but since I am not the one maintainin
the list, I can't add new things for people to learn and change thei
habitual routines without the company blowing up first.


Thanks again for the help,

Jame
 
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